NEW ALBUMS
SVEN WUNDER
Natura Morta PIANO PIANO 7/10
Stylish, eloquent mood music pulled from the library shelves
On his third album, Swedish composer Sven Wunder starts as he’s always meant to go on, envisioning an evocative mood music that’s effortlessly cosmopolitan. Previous albums explored Turkish rock and Japanese min’yo through the lens of Wunder’s eloquent, e-z/jazz arrangements; this time around the result feels steeped in European library music, Italian soundtracks and touches of Peddlers/Rotary Connection psychsoul. Natura Morta is an undeniably lovely album, a stylish confection, songs like “Impasto” and “Alla Prima” brimming with lush strings. It’s gorgeous, then, though en masse it might benefit from some roughness and spontaneity.