Stockholm-based singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Alexander Sjödin is back with a fresh new single on ABYOND. The new release elevates Sailor & I to the next artistic level after his dreamy and colorful debut album Diving For Lost Treasure, which introduced us to his warm fusion of retro, analog and digital sounds. The new Sailor & I and ABYOND song Losing Track Of Love is an emotional Indie Pop ballad with an epic tribalistic atmosphere.
The instrumental part of the track centers around a majestic melody composed with the use of orchestral string samples and backed up by a massive rhythm-section that relies heavily on hand drums and traditional percussion. By carefully swapping the accents between them, the new Sailor & I and ABYOND song creates the atmosphere of a sleeping volcano that erupts at the most emotional moments of the track. And, thanks to the multiple layers of percussion and their heavy, “crawling” pace, it feels like the levels of energy are constantly expanding, as if we’re listening to the sounds of a boiling magma that is rising from the depths of a volcanic cone.
Over this elemental beat, Sailor & I sings about Losing Track Of Love in a soft and emotional manner. It is something reminiscent of both, the more slow-tempo pieces from the debut album and some Indie or Dream Pop acts like Beach House and The xx. However, unlike the traditional reverb-drenched vocals that you may hear on the songs in those genres, Alexander Sjödin uses the effect sparingly, unleashing it only at the most cathartic moments of the song. When this is being combined with the woody warmth of the percussion, it sounds almost like something Indie Rock bands like Deerhunter or Yo La Tengo would do.
This shift from the analog, synth-centered sound towards the more orchestra-inspired cinematic territories raises the anticipation for the next works by the artist. Overall, Losing Track Of Love is not only a step forward for Alexander Sjödin as a producer and songwriter, but it’s also a radio-friendly track that has all the chances to find its way towards the tops of the charts.
