Review: HUMANOLOGY, PETER JÖBACK NEW ALBUM

HUMANOLOGY - Peter Jöback new CD, release date 26th of October

During his entire career, Peter Jöback has gone from musical to pop back and forth. In recent years, he has been dedicated to the musicals as he played the Phantom of the Opera Phantom, both in West End, Broadway and Stockholm. However, together with Kathryn Williams, Tobias Fröberg and Tobias Karlsson, he has written songs for a new pop album. The first time he released a taste of it was in London almost 4 years ago when he sang "Beliver" in a stripped version. Now he has recorded 10 songs, all with amazing arrangements with a band, strings and brass with exception of the song, Call Me By Your Name, performed only by a piano. Resound is a perfect choir which, along with the skilled musicians and Peter's voice, completes every song.

The first single from the new album was "The Mask", a song that, with its introduction text on "Yellow Taxi with their lights on, neon signs, write the sky" brings us to New York and sets the tone for this album. A well chosen first single as he just played the phantom and now throwing his mask and returning to the pop world. It was followed by the captivating "The Shape Of You" and the last single "Addicted" which is a gospel inspired tribute to life and the world we live in.

But what's interesting with this album is that Peter chooses to present almost all the songs in his show "Med hjärtat som insats" (With the heart at stake) which had premiere over a month before the record release. The show is based on all his non musical records, but main part of the show is focused on the new songs. It's brave to have so many new songs that no one has heard before in a show. But Peter knew what he was doing, because under the show it's the new songs that gets the most jubilation and applause, even though nobody has heard them before. Peter has landed in himself and has an assurance as an artist and really enjoys performing these songs. His voice, intensity and energy carry these songs to high levels. Strong songs which you can sing along to directly, isn't that what you usually call a hit or showstopper? All songs on this record has that special quality and feeling.

Peter has released some pop records earlier in both Swedish and English and I have enjoyed all of them but here he has surpassed himself. This one really stands out and is a disc that you do not get tired of but will play for many years to come. He truly proves that he is an artist with a voice that works just as well in a dramatic musical song as in pop song. Peter has a unique voice which you immediately recognize as his.

On the record he has chosen to have some different styles, all of which have a connection to the pop music. They complement each other to a perfect unity.

"Dancing" is a wonderful disco song that makes it impossible to sit still, you just want to get up and dance. The backing song by Resound give you the right 70ths disco feeling. "I Want To Know" is a new revenge song a little like "I Will Survive" which you can listen and sing along to when you need to boost your self-confidence. "How Great It Is" and "Rushing Into Love" are also dance-friendly songs.

My personal favorites are "Believer" which I feel in love with the first time I heard it four years ago. I still love it in this new version. It is the kind of songs which make you feel happy. "What If Tomorrow Never Come" is a delicious Bond-inspired song that goes from calm to very powerful, pompous and intense and just growing and growing. Perfect for Peter's voice, where he can use his entire voice register and intense feeling. The song which moved me most is "Call Me By Your Name". Was completely knocked off the first time I heard it. Peter's emotional voice along with Richard Nilsson's softly piano play is a masterpiece. Very simple, with so much feeling and magically beautiful.

This is a record that I think you should buy on CD and not just download because it contains a book with all lyrics and nice pictures. It's a lovely feeling to sit and browse and take in the amazing texts properly. It's very well suited to listen straight through, because you really want to hear just one more song and then once again, preferably at high volume. Perfect now when it's getting cold and gray outside and you want to stay inside.

In Sweden a lot of people associate Peter with Christmas because they love his classic Christmas record and this year we can celebrate Christmas early for Humanology is nothing but an early Christmas present! Perhaps even the Christmas present of the year!

The CD can be ordered from: https://www.bengans.se/sv/artiklar/peter-joback-humanology-signerad-skiva.html