𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 - this week: Let Go - Patrik Ahlm

Welcome all to 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 playlists.

𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙂𝙤 - 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠 𝘼𝙝𝙡𝙢

Charles refuses to let go…

This might be complete and utter fiction, but I always have the feeling that some of you moan or complain in private when I review someone I have reviewed before. It might be entirely in my head - lord knows, SOMEthing’s gotta be in there. But should this be the case, I’d like to set the record straight (wicked song by Reef, if you know it). Favouritism... “CC just picks his favourites”… Er... Yes. That's the whole point of this weekly column of mine. To pick my fave new releases. BUT!! I will never simply pick my favourite artists out of blind support for my musical chums. Which is why it was 19 weeks since I reviewed last week’s artist, and why it is 37 weeks since I reviewed this week’s. Speaking of whom, he had three great singles in a row that I didn't review. Five, if you include the one with Seven Streams and the one with Jane Marie (gorgeous song that I had stuck in my head for half of Sunday). Four of the last five reviews (this year so far), have been artists I have never reviewed before. And three of those four were immensely grateful. So you see, I am very much innocent in this way. Probably guilty in many other ways, but that’s beside the point. Those who might have held some sort of grudge (again, might be all in my head and a thoroughly fictional matter) against me for reviewing an artist I have reviewed before, I simply ask that you let go of this nonsense and enjoy the articles. Or ignore them altogether. Entirely up to you. If you want a (pretty much) guaranteed review from me, simply make an absolutely fabulous song. Either that or something completely original or fresh. Basically, something I can't ignore that really piques my little cells. It must however be of decent quality sound, and hold a certain level of professionalism. You must show you care and have actually bothered. If you'd like to deposit £1000 in my account, this can also sway me. No no no. I don't, have never, and will never take bribes.

This final thing I mentioned - not the bribe gag - is most important. Showing you care. Showing you take your music seriously. There is no point otherwise. And in this way, I AM biased. I am biased towards more deserving artists. Although it is a huge bonus if the artist is a beautiful human being, I care more about the human doing. True, I am more likely to review a great artist if they are lovely, honest, grateful and supportive. In the same way that I am far less likely to review a great artist if they are selfish, rude, ungrateful and dishonest. But ultimately, the music always comes first for me. Of course, I will never knowingly review a HAL (A.I.) "artist", for so many reasons. Mainly because this "artist" would fail to tick the boxes of professionalism, care, bother, and taking it seriously. They fail on all counts. It is also not their music. Other than that though, it's pretty easy to gain a review from me; if making fabulous music is easy… Which it ain’t. Hah!

Sweden seems to be a rather special and unique place (he says, having never been there). I admire the way the country doesn’t follow other countries. That it does things its own way. Its government works. Its economy works. Its health system works. People are apparently generally and genuinely happy there. There seems to be a sense of contentment and modest pride. And why NOT?! When things are actually as good as they seem, why not smile? They don’t have heavy debt, they don’t have war, they don’t have millions of angry people, they don’t have inept government. And they aren’t sheep. There is of course the strong possibility that I have all this entirely wrong, and that Sweden too is going to the dogs (or elks in their case). But I certainly don’t get that impression. I think pretty much every Swede I’ve ever met or known has been a thoroughly rounded person. Sometimes grounded, sometimes rather eccentric; but always good and always with such a comfortably upbeat nature. I do believe that a country’s manner can persuade the same manner of its own people. One’s surroundings can truly change a person, for better or for worse. Take Patrik Ahlm, for example. What a rounded sort. Not round though; very slim, in fact (he thinks not). He exudes all that is great about Sweden. The country should be proud to have him as a member. And so should the New Artist Spotlight.

There is a certain order to Sweden. Not in the clinically precise German way, but more in the way of keeping things in check. A certain diligence and considered method. P. Ahlm (Palm, as I might start calling him) has taken on this very trait in various ways. Here’s how. Patrik has released many singles in the last few years. While this has been an ongoing enjoyable experience for all of us, singles do have the tendency to disappear from one’s immediate recollection and almost vanish. Or they become world-famous hits that remain timeless and permanently current. Since most of us are unlikely to achieve such a thing, it is the unfortunate former that tends to ring true. We - to quote the Mafia - “forget about it”. Patrik just didn’t want to let go of his music. And so he devised a plan in order to put things in order. The order of the day was structure and completity. A way to have all those singles in one place. Well, not ALL those singles, but all those singles that go well together. Call it a compilation. Apple Music does, anyway. And so, Falcon Street Shuffle was born on Saturday. I must say, this somewhat relieves me, because I find it a little soul destroying to sift through a great artist’s library, manually selecting single after single when I simply feel like a chunk of that artist. Of course, I could add them all to a playlist of my own, labelled something like “Patrik’s songs”. Aside from having to keep this up - adding to the year’s chores - it is a little tacky. With Patrik I always wanted something more proper; something official. And here it is, in all its glory. Some of its glory, anyway… You will notice that it doesn’t include ALL of his singles. This is (I hope) probably because those left off the compilation album will become part of the follow-up album, whenever that may be. You see, The ones not included would not quite fit this album. They are of a different style. The man has evidently put a lot of time and thought into this. Let’s learn a little more about that man before going into the music.

Just 3 weeks ago my pick was Let It Go, by Unobliterated. This topic seems to be rather popular. To say “sod it”. Or, not quite, but to an extent. I don’t really like to repeat myself in terms of “plot”, so am therefore not making many gags or clevernesses on the title, but rather concentrating on the artist himself. In all his 80s splendour, Patrik finds himself in his 60s splendour. Let me explain. A few days ago, this youthful man turned 60!! He purposely made sure that his birthday would coincide with the very same day as his release. I think it was that way around… Priorities and all that. But 60!! I mean, just listen to that voice. Feel the energy in his music. How is it POSSIBLE that this music comes from a 60 year old?? He’s one of the very best popstars in the NAS. I don’t think anyone could argue that. But pop is for the young, no? Surely once you hit something like 30 or 35, you start to write “mature” music? Or these days what they call “Adult Contemporary”; which sounds more like something you’d reach for in a seedy Soho sex shop. A top shelf guilty pleasure - something wicked this way comes. But Patrik has little need for such titillation, what with his adoring wife of more than three decades. Really though, he gains all necessary excitement from making music, and from his gigantic family. A family that seems to grow exponentially: his fifth grandchild arrived by stork less than a month ago. Patrik is fit and healthy, and still retains all his hair (bastard). But coming back to pop, is 60 the new 30?? How on EARTH does he keep up that incredibly young voice. The answer is A.I…. Nope, my mistake. The answer is talent, technique and regular self-training. I suspect his “training” is a bit like my “guitar training” - just keep playing. I should think he simply just sings a lot. With experience one can hone and perfect, and eradicate any flaws that might niggle. He also HASN’T spent most of his life touring the world. This many gigs are sure to rip up one’s vocal cords… It’s one good thing about NOT doing live gigs: the voice CAN just keep on going. Mind you, there are many stars who still sounded great in their 70s and 80s. But how many sounded this YOUTHFUL?? Incredible. Although Patrik isn't performing his own songs live, he is however due to be doing a few gigs over summer, playing bass for a Swedish band called Bad Habits. He's not your average 60-year-old, and this ain't no bad habit.

And now, the music. So it’s a compilation. So what? While it’s great, there’s nothing new. Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong. The ever-clever Patrik realised it wouldn’t be fair to give us middle-aged without giving us newborn. Hence Let Go: an immediate, quintessential Patrik Ahlm pop classic! Please do play the entire album for 48 minutes of sheer pleasure - it’s an absolute treat! But for now, let’s dwell on the brand new track. It has the best of 80s pop and the best of the last ten years of pop. It’s so clean, so pure, and so upfront. It is unapologetically slick in all the best ways. Classic synths ride and poke the “four-to-the-floor” beat. It’s a celebration! You would honestly swear that Patrik has quietly been writing for Gary Barlow and Take That, Olly Murs and Sam Ryder. Although frankly, Patrik’s songs are better than those of Olly Murs and Sam Ryder. He is however on par with the best of Gary Barlow. That’s a huge compliment, by the way. Gary Barlow is an immensely good pop songwriter. It’s just weird that Patrik’s voice always SOUNDS like Gary’s as well. Let Go is absolutely perfect and wholly satisfying. The whole mix is just supoyb. Spiky in the right places, smooth in the rest. The balance is that strangely rare thing: balanced. The bass pumps with just enough oomph. The beats carry the groove from the first to the last. And all the while, Patrik glides effortless atop the whole shebang. And what LUSH harmonies!!! Lately, I have moved away from POP-pop, both in writing and in listening. I assumed this was a taste thang; that my needs have changed. But I think it’s a quality thing. I was sick of rubbish pop. This ain’t rubbish pop. This is satisfaction in a nutshell.

Several of you might be wondering why the album (as well as all his singles) has the word Concord on the cover. I mean, his name is Patrik Ahlm, and his artist name is no different. Look… Like the baffling demise of the speedy aeroplane, it’s just something of which you’ll have to let go. I’m sure he knows what he’s doing. He’s an adult. A contemporary adult. Saturday must have been quite a day for the talented Swede. But in remembering my Irish side, I coined it St. Patrik’s Day.

I hope you enjoyed reading my Palm.

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