Ellas Kapell: Ember

Formed in 2016, Swedish quartet Ellas Kapel have been steadily evolving their identity and sound, refining their approach to arrangement with each release. Ember represents their most assertive step yet: moving away from a one-take approach to self-produce for the first time. The decision pays clear dividends, enabling them to broaden their soundscape and take genuine ownership of their music. Studio enhancements and overdubs are integrated into the fabric of the recording to build a sound that retains a distinct flavor of their Scandinavian heritage while remaining respectful of the roots of the source material.

Over the course of their previous three albums, the band has built a strong following, winning numerous awards and amassing more than 7 million streams. The core quartet consists of vocalist Lovisa Jennervall alongside pianist Manne Skafvenstedt on piano and synthesizers, August Eriksson on basses and violin and Edvin Glante on drums and percussion. The band covers eight well-known standards, seeking to blend familiarity with their contemporary approach.

The album opens with Bill Evans' "Very Early." Jennervall's vocals immediately capture the attention. Her voice is clear and precise, sweet-toned and with no excessive vibrato. Her phrasing is inventive throughout, though the scat passage here sits slightly uneasily against the backing and underlying electronics. Everything is more convincing on Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," where Jennervall's voice takes on a soulful warmth. The arrangement feels genuinely inventive and guest musician Johan Christoffersson is given the space to shape an excellent alto saxophone solo before a rather abrupt fade brings the track to a close.

One of the album highlights is Johnny Green and Edward Heyman's "I Cover The Waterfront." The clarity of Jennerval's narrative hits the mark with authority, flowing over Skafvenstedt's piano motif and Eriksson's bass. Skafvenstedt steps further into the spotlight with his solo on "How Deep Is The Ocean" alongside Glänte's creative drumming.

The intimate arrangement of Ray Noble's composition "The Very Thought Of You" has excellent contributions from guests Tobias Wiklund on cornet and Gustav Alte on pedal steel, with Jennervall showing precisely the level of restraint the arrangement demands. The band adopts a heavier rhythmic approach to Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.'s "Don't Explain," featuring Skafvenstedt on synthesizer, before rounding off the album with "I Fall In Love Too Easily."

Taking control of the production, mixing and recording marks a significant step forward. Repeated listening rewards the effort, revealing the subtlety and care embedded in the arrangements. Their blend of acoustic and electronic textures has enabled their reimagining of these songs to hit new heights with a wider gamut of sound. There is a great deal to admire here and this recording may prove pivotal as they reshape the boundaries of their musical expression.