Us and Them - 2025 - The Lights and the Shadow

(44:41, Friends of the Fish)






















A small child has fallen asleep in the safe embrace of cuddly toys, a lamp provides light to the darkness, removing all thoughts of monsters and instead imbuing a gentle and calming glow to the scene. Even before I started listening to the fourth album from Swedish duo Britt Ronnholm (vocals) and Anders Haakanson (instruments) I was intrigued to hear it, and for the most part I was not disappointed. I have long been a fan of folk, folk rock and folk psyche, loving the vocals of such great singers as Sandy Denny, Jacqui McShee, Judy Dyble, Maddy Prior and more, and when the arrangements are atmospheric there is something beautiful taking place, and that is what we have here.

Anders is a master of multiple instruments, and he takes care to build fragile tapestries for Britt to place her vocals against, structures which are barely there, but provide just the right amount of support for us to fall under Britt’s spell. This never sounds like an album from 2025, but replace some of the synth patches with real instruments and we could easily be back in the late Sixties/early Seventies, with Fairport Convention, Trader Horne, Fotheringay, Gryphon and The Pentangle all having their part to play in the influences being portrayed, yet here it is always at the more atmospheric end.

There are plenty of songs where there is no percussion whatsoever, and I must admit that due to personal tastes I would rather that had been the case throughout as there are times when I find the programming just too intrusive and detracting. It is the only dark side on what is a truly wonderfully atmospheric and haunting release which is compelling and powerful, even though it is reflective and subdued throughout. Yet another wonderful release from Us and Them and the mighty FdeM stable. 

Kev Rowland, December 2025

Links:
https://www.usandthem.se/
https://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/

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