Mikroklima by Gustaf Ljunggren & Emil de Waal
Easy-listening Jazz that sounds effortless
Swedish multi-instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren and Danish drummer Emil de Waal have been collaborating for years, combining their acute talents for melody and rhythm, primarily through Jazz and Folk forms (the outlier being their 2018 self-titled debut, which is intriguingly flagged as Dance-pop on Discogs). Really easy on the ear, the ten tracks on Mikroklima (which translates as microclimate) are made with guitars (bass, electric and acoustic), synths and Fender Rhodes... oh, and a bunch of 12 year old music students. Free from flashy solos, there's an appealing restraint and ease to their musicianship. Charismatic and impressive.