Northern Trails – Through The Grain (2024)
Almost two years ago (May 2022 to be exact), Christer Tinnerholm (bass) and Thomas Isberg (vocals, guitar and banjo) decided to “focus less on ultra running and more on pop music” – the overall result is Northern Trails. Joined by friends Per Larsson (guitar, mandolin and lap steel) and Ulf Eklund (drums), the foursome recorded their EP Hearts Went Frozen on tape and then released it in November 2023. After listening to the track ‘AQ’ on the radio, Thomas Strömbom contacted the lads asking if they required a keyboard player. Hey presto, from that day to this Northern Trails evolved into a Swedish quintet.
If this is the first time you are hearing about Northern Trails, don’t worry it’s our introduction as well. Yet, while it took time for us to pay attention, the lads have turned heads internationally featuring on publications, radio stations and playlists, particularly coverage of Hearts Went Frozen. Join us as we delve further into the Northern Trails discography.
Despite having only a few releases, especially as a quintet, Northern Trails delivers a signature sound blending classic rock with Americana and indie-rock roots. Recorded and produced by Thomas Isberg, ‘Through The Grain’ retains a raw vulnerability woven into the arrangement; however, an elegant sophistication clings to the tune binding it with polish gained in professional studios, not someone’s home with limited gear. Moreover, as the recording is often a live session, the experience of a live performance transcends studio refinement.
An Americana spirit is captured in ‘Through The Grain’ but it is the fusion of nostalgic sounds that excites me. Leaping from 60s/70s classic rock to 90s pop-rock with old-school folk-rock in a modern-day Americana wrapper, Northern Trails draws together decades and generations with the one common thread – the power of music. Interestingly, this mishmash of soothing, smooth but hard-hitting music perfectly aligns with the intricate theme of confusion and clarity. Northern Trails explains:
“’Through The Grain’ was written as a tribute to moments when you feel like everything suddenly clears up and you step over the threshold to new territory – something that can happen after a long struggle to learn something new, but can just as well happen in an instant through a glass of beer…”
Find out more about Northern Trails on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more powerful pop-rock tunes on The Other Side Reviews Pop Rock playlist:
