CHRIS ERICHSEN – Kjærtegn og Manifester

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://chriserichsen.bandcamp.com/album/kj-rtegn-manifester

I had no idea what to expect from this curiously titled opus by Chris Erichsen of Det Aller Værste! fame, and although Erichsen’s solo output does bear more than a subtle resemblance to the aforementioned band and its take on New Wave and (post) punk, Kjærtegn and Manifester is something else altogether and much more akin to a quirky, eclectic, and charmingly eccentric art rock album that enlivens the spirit all the while conjuring up an intangible aura of melancholy that is utterly engrossing. In truth, this is poetry set to music.

With respect to the lyrics and song titles, metaphor and metonymy are certainly not foreign concepts to the great songwriter that Erichsen undoubtedly is, and with the highly creative and unique words being sung and spoken in his native language, the disc attains a personal, introspective, and not least reflective quality that informs the material from beginning to end. Overflowing with drama and pathos and possessing an almost theatrical vibe, these ten compositions are steeped in atmosphere and seamlessly move back and forth between what feels strangely surreal and what is relatable and speaks to the human condition. The melodies are nothing if not interesting and memorable, the song arrangements are intelligent without being pretentious, and the mood of each track sucks you in and stirs the senses in ways that few records do.

Kjærtegn and Manifester is a perfectly challenging listen that gradually sheds its skin and reveals multiple dimensions and textures that collectively embody a wonderful piece of work that transcends genres in a thoughtful and moving way. One of those special and emotionally charged releases that needs to be experienced in its entirety and preferably a few times in a row. Brilliant stuff.