Swedish songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Tobias Arbo has released his debut album, Yellow Woods. Released this Aug 30, the album extends an alighted path for us to find our way out of the woods of his lush soundscapes.
Yellow Woods opens with the short but impactful โIntro,โ a 0.32-second song that is like a prelude with a distorted, hazy aural field that reminds you of a blurry vision or a fever dream. The following track, โPyre,โ is a standout, with Arboโs soft, thick vocals introducing themselves amidst atmospheric music. He comes through and stays upfront with his careful yet vulnerable and gentle delivery, invoking themes of loneliness with diaristic lyrics.
โSirenโ is another highlight of the album with a mellow, hazy soundscape merged with shimmering, rippling melodies. Arboโs lyrics here merge memories, actions, reflections, thoughts and feelings. In the song, the artist recounts his very specific observations of a loved one to convey his closeness.
โSpacecraftโ gets more emotive about loss and longing with the soft piano key flickering alongside Arboโs tender delivery, female backing vocals and escapist lyrics. He sings, โHow am I supposed to sleep in this bed/If my arm is not beneath your head/Itโs not enough to buy a Wilson-ball and escape on a raft/Iโll have to build a spacecraft.โ There are several motifs like his โarmโ mentioned throughout the album which, very likely, progresses his emotions and story.
The album concludes with the title track, โYellow Woods.โ This song opens with warmth weaving through an anthemic immersion that cascades in before the rustling rhythm rumbles softly underneath the gushing and rising ambience. Its enchantment might just shine the white light out of our Yellow Woods of endless possibilities.
Listen to the magnificent Yellow Woods by Tobias Arbo on Spotify.
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Photo credits: Olof Grind
Review by: Naomi Joan