Sven Wunder: the Swedish master of concept albums
Concept albums are difficult beasts to grapple with, both from the perspective of the artist and the audience. While some musicians build their careers by creating stunning concept albums, others tend to flirt with the idea without committing fully. An underappreciated aficionado of these projects is Sven Wunder, the Swedish composer who has worked the concept album down to a fine art.
Hailing from Stockholm, Wunder has been creating diverse music for television and film soundtracks for years. The son of a respected jazz drummer, Wunder (the stage name of Joel Danell) has had a love for the weird and wonderful from a very young age.
The Swede began mastering the concept album in 2019 with his debut, Eastern Flowers. Immediately showcasing his uncanny ability to capture specific atmospheres and themes within his music, the album is inspired by flowers of the Mediterranean, with each track entitled after one such flower. The album seems to capture the middle of an incredibly broad Venn diagram, incorporating elements of psychedelia, jazz, soul and traditional Mediterranean folk music.
Wunder’s music, aside from a few singles released through Brighton’s Mr Bongo, has been released on his very own independent label, Piano Piano. His independent way of working, in addition to his chameleon-like ability to adapt to countless different styles and atmospheres, has made him something of a mysterious figure within the world of international jazz recording.
Following up on the excitement created on Eastern Flowers, Wunder’s next project sees him travel to Asia for Wabi Sabi. Effortlessly blending jazz-rock with Min’yō, a type of traditional Japanese folk music, Wunder creates a soundscape that transports you across land and sea. The cinematic sounds of the album create a musical passage between the old world and the new, with the influence of Western music and instruments bringing the traditional folk of Japan into the modern age. Wabi Sabi features a much heavier incorporation of funk and Moog synthesisers than its predecessor, a welcome addition that adds a new layer to the complexities of Wunder’s work.
Taking a break from his intercontinental musical exploration, Sven Wunder explores the barrier between art and life on his third album, Natura Morta. Its album cover harks back to still-life paintings found among the ancient wreckage of Pompeii, with the album’s title translating to ‘Dead Nature’ in English. Natura Morta is a wonderfully vibrant exploration of art that seems awash with colour and innovation.
Never one to slow down, Sven Wunder released his latest effort, Late Again, in September of 2023. Embracing his hip-hop influences while maintaining his distinct ability to create cinematic soundscapes, Late Again is the perfect album for those tranquil evenings. Much of his work is rooted in peaceful darkness, owing to the long winters of his native Sweden, but it is most obvious on this latest offering. The composer had mastered the elusive art of the concept album, and fortunately, he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
