At 27,
Mattias Windemo proved himself to be among Sweden's more adventurous young improvisers on his debut album,
Water Story, an impressionistic, probing blend of jazz (both avant-garde and fusion), pop and folk. Bringing to mind
Pat Metheny in some respects, the guitarist has an airy sound and often favors a folk-like ambiance. But
Windemo is very much his own man, and the ambient, haunting vocals of Linda Svantesson (featured prominently on this CD) aren't like anything you'd find on a Metheny album. Svantesson (who is Scandinavian herself, but is heard only in English) shows an awareness of alternative rockers
Tori Amos and Björk; but unlike their singing, her contributions to
Water Story are essentially jazz-oriented. Density is the last thing you'll find on this reflective album; whether employing Svantesson on "Naked," "White Sand" and "Quiet Wind" or favoring an instrumental approach on "Goof's Blues" and "Eagle Eyed,"
Windemo uses space to his advantage. Released on the Stockholm-based Amigo label, this promising debut made it to American stores an import. ~ Alex Henderson