Teitur

Performing in the singer-songwriter tradition is only human nature for Teitur Lassen, who grew up on a healthy dose of James Taylor, Tracy Chapman, and Suzanne Vega. This self-professed troubadour from Denmark’s Faroe Islands is songwriter first and foremost, as he manages to blend voice and poetry into a polished acoustic realm – think Badly Drawn Boy or Coldplay with a splash less rock and roll. But it’s his acoustic confessional lyrics, with a knack for gentle pop harmonies that make Poetry and Aeroplanes -a collection of twelve stark confessional pangs- a cozy listen.

Dissecting the remote quality of long-distance relationships, Teitur owns up to, "I think about long distance rates instead of kissing you babe," in "I Was Just Thinking." Dreamy strings and organs create a delicate mood, providing the album a wall of sound journal. Fans of acoustic Dave Matthews or Jeff Buckley will find relative comfort in the stark sensitive observations in "Josephine" or the vulnerable ballad "One &Only." Although the album is heavy in themes of love and isolation, Teitur swings around valleys of pop tart nausea, by keeping the song textures humble and never over-exposing the chorus opportunities. Kudos to Teitur for maintaining this integrity, as Poetry and Aeroplanes borders on radio potential, but soundly stands on its own.

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