Amaterasu

David Fridlund | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hidden Agenda
• ASIN: B0008FPJ8U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,775 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Circles

2. April & May

3. Insomnia

4. Knives

5. Then I Will Miss You

6. White Van

7. Busride & Carsick

8. Before It Breaks

9. Intro

10. Satellite

11. November

12. 3 Pictures (Of You & You & You)

13. The Past Floats Like Stones

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

A killer writer, deft musician, brilliant performer and man of conviction: David Fridlund is the namesake and frontman for Swedish guitar-and-piano pop powerhouse David & The Citizens.

Neatly positioned between quiet sections of cool piano, even at the most stripped and feathered moments on "Amaterasu", a vying monster of bombastic qualities awaits, making it difficult not to be moved.

With a lorry load of accolades and praise for his work fronting David & the Citizens, Fridlund displays yet more talent on his first solo disc.

"I never planned a solo record, everything I wanted we already did with the Citizens." David says, "But the more people mentioned the solo idea, the more it grew, so when our Swedish booker Jesper Kumberg asked: 'isn't it time for that solo record' it all sort of fell into place." Kumberg has worked with David since early 1999, helping his band to over 200 shows and taken some praise for propelling David and the Citizens to dizzy heights and a Grammy nomination. "But we had run Citizens aground," Says David, "Admittedly, We were close to splitting, and probably would have if the work on this record had not got going."

It didn’t take long, Fridlund rarely suffers writers block. Anyone who knows him will know he is always a man with a new song. He is a record company's dream, and a fan's songwriter. The Citizens' status quo is removed, and replaced with a new order called "Amaterasu".

Until now David’s work with the Citizens was, produced at Gula Studion in Malmoe by Jens Lingard (Franz Ferdinand, St Etienne, Cardigans et al).

"On Amaterasu, the piano compositions and the lion's share of songs were recorded at home (like many of the early Citizens' demo records), and also at our rehearsal space - like the song Sore Feet and Blisters, which was on Until the Sadness Is Gone - with my brother Joel adding his expertise."

Joel has long been in the background. As kids living in a terraced Swedish radhus, they played at making a recording studio.

"With this record, it's been a refreshing change and the recording process, to say the least, has been Lo-Fi."

Indeed, "Amaterasu" was partly recorded at an ex-slaughter house, backed by musicians, and co-produced and performed by David and brother, Joel. Finally at Senorita Studios, Hassleholm, It is Johan T Karlsson who tweaks knobs and took the reigns for the final mix.

If there is a place where something is minimal and experimental - it is where "Amaterasu" resides.

Highly regarded singer and David's long-standing partner, Sara Culler also guests on the album. David says, "The end result is named: "Amaterasu", and is dedicated to Sara and is inspired by her middle name. This is what it all means to me. What it means to you, you will have to explore alone."

In Japan, "Amaterasu" is the name of the sun goddess.

Amaterasu is all yours.

Product Description

Amaterasu is the debut album from David Fridlund, namesake and frontman for revered Swedish guitar-and-piano pop powerhouse David & The Citizens, and one of the most prolific and respected songwriters in Scandinavia.

Recording Amaterasu David was joined by acclaimed vocalist and long-time partner Sara Culler and enlisted his brother Joel as producer and engineer. David Fridlund’s exquisitely crafted pop will find favor with fans of Ben Folds, Patrick Wolf, Ida, The Decemberists, Palace Brothers, and Bright Eyes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I need to buy 2 copies more often, December 17, 2005

By 

J. Klein (SF, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amaterasu (Audio CD)

You see, I only sat down to listen to this because I accidentally bought a second copy from the Amoeba clearence bin. I wanted to determine which of my friends might enjoy Fridlund most. Turns out, I think all of them would.

Fridlund presents a mix of piano-driven cabaret-ish tunes (think Dresden Dolls meets Vince Guaraldi), piano ballads, and quiet chamber-folk. There are several standout songs, but these are my faves: "November," a pretty John Denver-Bright Eyes acoustic guitar piece that bursts into a crescendo of brass, chimes and kettle drums; "Then I Will Miss You" with its "River Man" (Nick Drake) verse and Last of the Mohicans score chorus; and the Ben Folds-meets-Decemberists 4/4 stomp of "White Van." The album as a whole is strikingly well-sequenced, with each song a fresh departure from the one before it.

This is certainly one of my new favorites of 2005. Fans of Sufjan Stevens and Belle & Sebastian, in addition to the aforementioned artists, should pay heed!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars David Fridlund and Sara Culler are great, September 15, 2005

By 

George Culler (Plano, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Amaterasu (Audio CD)

If you loved Until the Sadness is Gone, you'll love this cd. David is such a great singer and songwriter and Sara's vocals are beautiful. Everyone has to buy this CD. Go Sis.