The Tallest Man on Earth

The Tallest Man On Earth is the new Midas of Swedish folk, and we could add, Scandinavian folk as well. Behind the moniker stands Kristian Matsson, though artistically known as The Tallest Man On Earth. It could be argued that his third album, "There's No Leaving Now" (2012), solidified this crown, although he had already pleasantly surprised with his debut, "Shallow Grave" (2008), which unironically played with Dylan-esque echoes and, in the era of "weird" folk, eschewed any sort of strangeness or obscurity, opting instead for straightforward melody.

The harmonica and fingerpicked guitar connected to timeless standards and then to 21st-century sensibilities. The achievements of "Shallow Grave" were furthered by "The Wild Hunt" (2010), which charted and expanded his audience. His penultimate studio album to date is "Dark Bird Is Home" (2015), recorded with a band - a departure from his previous solo tours - and crafted around his divorce. It's akin to his own "Blood On The Tracks" his most personal album.

In 2018, he embarked on the project "When The Bird Sees The Solid Ground" a series of five songs released in installments: "An Ocean" in March; "Somewhere In The Mountains, Somewhere In New York" in April; "Forever Is A Very Long Time" in August; "Down In My Heart" in August; and finally "The I Won't Sing No More." Each song release was accompanied by a thematically related music video directed by Matsson himself.