As Jens Lekman finished his set at P.A.’s Lounge in Somerville on Monday night, he told the audience that, although he does not do encores, he would be happy to perform songs, face-to-face, to anyone with a request. At least one person took Lekman up on his offer, and the Swedish musician was soon giving a private performance to five eager fans in the corner of the small bar.
To most people, this would not seem like a big deal. Of course, most people reading this are thinking, “Who in God’s name is Jens Lekman?” Jens (pronounced “yens”) Lekman is the best pop artist to emerge on the scene in the past two years. With all apologies to Sufjan, Devendra, Antony and Franz, Jens Lekman’s songwriting, singing and lyrics are unmatched by any other new artist.
Lekman is a bona fide pop star in Sweden, and it is a mixed blessing that he has not hit it big in America yet. Due to his obscurity, the 60 fans in attendance were treated to an extraordinarily intimate performance. But one couldn’t help but feel bad that so few people know a musician who is producing songs that combine the sophistication of Phil Spector’s best productions with the emotional earnestness of The Smiths.
Lekman and his band, comprised of a bassist, cellist, violinist, drummer and trumpeter, reproduced the complex compositions with startling clarity.
Part of what makes Lekman so appealing is the variation in his music. The band handled all of it adeptly, whether it was the celebratory rumpus “A Sweet Summernight On Hammer Hill” – complete with a blaring trumpet riff and cheery “Bumpa, bumpa, bumpa, bumpa, bumpa, bumpa, bum” chorus – or the tender “Do You Remember the Riots.” Lekman explained that the latter song is about realizing he and his girlfriend’s relationship was on its last legs during a series of riots in Gothenburg, Sweden, that took place during an EU Summit in June of 2001.
So far Lekman has released three spectacular EPs and one full-length album. On November 22 his record company, the Indiana-based Secretly Canadian, is releasing all the songs off his EPs on one disk, titled Oh You’re So Silent Jens.
The only downside to the show was the shoddy PA system. Lekman’s vocals sounded muddy in the mix, which is unfortunate because his rich croon is such a vital part of his songs. Lekman rectified this situation during his last song, “Julia.” He unplugged his ukulele, stood on a chair in the back of the room, and delivered a rousing unplugged solo performance. m
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