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The joy of making noise

The cover of the new album, “The Invisible Son”.

Photo: Annie Anderberg

The Invisible Son is an album about struggling to be noticed when growing up; if not seen, you have to be heard. The album is about the joy of making noise and the power an electric guitar can give you.

The album is sort of split into two halves; the first five songs are about frustration, complicated relations, and heartbreaking breakups. The following songs discuss hope, freedom, pleasure, community, and loss.

The joy of making music and playing together stands out in this sixth Slowman album. The new band members on this album are outstanding. Owe Eriksson on bass is steady as a rock and now and then flies away with the most beautiful lines on the highest musical level. Thomas "Tompa" Björklund doesn't play drums; he creates an entire percussion arrangement for every song. Every beat is on precisely the right split of a second. They are the main reason this album is so packed with the joy of playing. The cake's topping consists of Tomas Wihlborg on organ and accordion and Ola Cronholm on acoustic and electric guitar.

I am so proud of this record, and for a long time, I could not imagine that it would ever happen. I'm glad and proud that it eventually did.

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About “The Invisible Son”

The Invisible Son

Slowman absolutely deserves international recognition

It can be stated without any doubt that the 6th studio record, 'The Invisible Son', from Swedish singer songwriter Svante Törngren, a.k.a. Slowman, is his best performance ever. He is presenting contemporary bluesy rock songs and splendid Springsteen-like ballads that can easily face the competition with internationally established artists. If there is still any justice left in this world, Slowman absolutely deserves international recognition for his most recent work.

Valére Sampermans, Rootstime

Smells of beer, cigarettes and the scent of pine

This collection gets off to a rollicking start with “The Invisible Son” which’s pumped up with rock traditions, a dash of Americana paint & lots of barroom spirit. It has that Georgia Satellites, BoDeans, Black Sorrows & Del Lords hard-biting friskiness spread throughout each performance. People who don’t like to dance will shake a leg to “Restless,” & sing along to the excellent “Harvest Home.”
… “The Invisible Son” … smells of beer, cigarettes and the scent of pine. It’s music that brings along an entire environment.
“Big Fat City Blues” lets loose with the notion of the old J. Geils Band & the Fabulous Thunderbirds. All the essential ingredients for an affirming rocky ride down a steep hill & into a clear cool pond. Love it. Love it because Slowman knows how to stir the notes in his remarkable repertoire. The most impressive tune comes with “On/Off” with its fiery guitar runs, stomping drums & Slowman’s skillful vocals.
The slower songs are well-sung but are a little more formulaic. Slowman’s voice, however, is fluid & endowed with enough bluesy ebullience to carry a tune like “Crying In the Rain” sufficiently despite its weight.
“Let It Out” is a great workout with a Muscle Shoals, Alabama & Philly Soul feel-good commercial heft. Soulful, tight groove somewhere in that Archie Bell & the Drells type funk (“Tighten Up”) from 1967. This band cooks. Slowman has mastered the cross-pollination of several genres of music.
… The 2nd lead guitar comes away from the Cropper funk & simply converges & electrifies in a way that Sly & the Family Stone did in their “Dance To The Music” days. This is a good, good band.

John Apice, Americana Highways

The joy of music and a certain freshness

Musically, this group shows the joy of music and a certain freshness. Elements of rock, blues rock and americana are present to a uniform extent, and the group shows relevant coherence, as well as experience in interpreting this musicform. Slowman himself, in cooperation with Ola Cronholm and Christopher Gothberg, did the production in a modern manner.

Branimir Lokner, Time Machine Music

An album that includes much to admire in the collective musicianship

'Harvest Home' is a warm tribute to a local watering hole where the local community gathers together to celebrate life, and 'Walking Down Our Streets' is a slow song that honours the past and a relationship that endures in the memory, ‘I miss you darling, but I’m still on my feet, walking down our streets’. It is a tribute to a loved one who lost a battle to cancer at a young age and it’s a fitting tribute to end an album that includes much to admire in the collective musicianship and the heartfelt delivery of these songs.

Paul McGee, Lonesome Highway

The joy of making music and playing together

This album is about the joy of making noise and the power an electric guitar can give you. The album is sort of split into 2 halves, the 1st 5 songs are about frustration, complicated relations, and heartbreaking breakups. The following songs discuss hope, freedom, pleasure, community, and loss. The joy of making music and playing together stands out on this 6th Slowman album.

Kenneth Bremer, Blue Desert

Not every singer and guitarist has a good story to tell

Slowman deserves to be heard. He alternates powerful blues rock with subdued ballads in good time, which prove that the Swede is just as good at writing catchy and narrative lyrics as he is at playing a muscular guitar solo.
He turns some blues rock songs into mini-novels and that ensures that The Invisible Son stands proudly above average. After all, not every singer and guitarist has a good story to tell.

Harry de Jong, Rootstime, BE

Svänget och öset är det som sticker ut

På nya ”The invisible son” bjuds det på musik som är lika mycket blues som rock´n roll – och inte en fot kan hållas stilla när dessa gitarrbaserade toner med en åtskillig dos av sväng uppenbarar sig … som inte så lite påminner en hel del om Georgia Satellites korsat med lite Clapton och Sven Zetterberg.
Det mesta låter förträffligt, mest när tempot är högt, precis som i inledande titelspår och ”Restless”, bluesiga ”Big fat city blues” och ”Best years yet to come” – fyra skivspår som knappast lämnar någon oberörd. Dessutom sjunger nu herr Slowman som om han inte har gjort mycket annat i sitt liv, med en stark och personlig stämma – som inte minst passar utmärkt i skivans övervägande rivigare låtar.
Även om svänget och öset är det som sticker ut mest på Slowmans ”The Invisible Son”, visar även avslutande och lugna ”Harvest Home” och ”Walking Down Our Streets” på en styrka som ger en ordentlig dos mersmak. Framför allt när det sistnämnda stycket är en låt som med sin lätta melankoli är den perfekta avslutningen på en helt igenom genomarbetad svensk skiva, som jag hoppas att många fler än jag tar till sig.

Torbjörn Berlin, Berlin Calling

En bra låtskrivare och sångare samt en enastående skicklig gitarrist

Slowmans 'The Invisible Son' är ett varierat album där tyngdpunkten ligger på blues-rock. Svante Törngren är en bra låtskrivare och sångare samt en enastående skicklig gitarrist. Han har tidigare släppt ett hyllnings-album till Jimi Hendrix, och det ger man sig inte på, om man inte behärskar gitarrspelet till fullo, och det gör Slowman verkligen. Jag gillar att gitarrspelet faktiskt är mer framträdande på detta album än på en del tidigare.

Pär Dahlerus, Musikpulsen

En rad med berättelser som de iscensätter i rockskrud

Slowman är ett säkert och stabilt band som finner lust och kärlek till mixen av blues, rock och klassisk pop, powerpop kanske? Men det sker i svensk kontext och just denna blågula rock är just precis det vi behöver just nu. Slowman skapar en rad med berättelser som de iscensätter i rockskrud.

MIcheles Kindh, Blaskan

Harvest Home är en låt det inte går att tröttna på

Jag faller för barndomsminnena i titellåten. Och är som helhet rätt imponerad av låtskrivarhantverket och självklart gitarrspelandet. Svantes känsla för ballader visar sig i vackra 'Crying In The Rain' och sköna vemodet i 'Walking Down Our Streets'. Bästa låten är dock tidigare singeln och kroghyllningen 'Harvest Home', en låt det inte går att tröttna på.

Christer B Jarlås, Rootsyland

Överträffar allt jag tidigare har hört av Slowman

Ett häfte med texter medföljer Slowmans nya album 'The Invisble Son' för den som vill studera Svante Törngrens lyrik närmare. Det är nämligen han som skriver alla texter och musik och på den här plattan överträffas allt jag tidigare har hört med honom, och det är ändå samtliga fullängdare plus ett par singlar. Slutligen vill jag nämna 'Harvest Home' som är en ljuvlig låt i stil med Mink DeVilles bästa grejer och till er som gillar svenska texter kan jag även rekommendera förra albumet, 'En Romantisk Idiot'.

Robert Ryttman, Zero Magazine

Slowmans röst passar både riviga låtar och rena ballader

Slowmans röst passar både riviga låtar och rena ballader även om just balladerna föll mig mest i smaken den här gången. Mina favoritlåtar är ”Crying in the rain” och ”Walking down our streets”. Jag gillar Slowmans röst men även hans gitarrspel, där han ju till och med jämförts med Eric Clapton. Plattans tema den här gången är hur man får kämpa för att göra sig synlig eller hörd när man växer upp.

Thomas Almqvist, Jefferson

About “The Best of Slowman”

The Best of Slowman

The fifteen tracks on this compilation are remarkably good

The fifteen tracks on this compilation are remarkably good – ...a truly rocking guitarist and this CD pounds away like vintage Eric Clapton – This is a man who knows his stuff.

Jamie Hailstone, Blues Matters!, UK

High score!

High score! – The best record I’ve heard in a long time

Kenneth Fogström, Blueswebben, Åland/Finland

Fifteen pearls!

Fifteen pearls! – This record is applicant for my choice to the 'Album of the year'. Both thumbs towards the top!

Ilka Heiser, Rock Times, Germany

Here is a man that will make you remember what rock'n roll should be

Here is a man that will make you remember what rock'n roll should be: rock-infused funk and blues packed with energetic hooks and infectious melodies.

Freddy Celis, Roots Time, Belgium

Real good music, top notch production

Real good music, top notch production, well sung and a beautiful booklet. – High Fun Factor.

Home of Rock, Germany

Above all, it’s the great compositions.

Above all, it’s the great compositions.

Nils Hansson, DN, Sweden

Slowman has a special feeling for toxic bluesrock.

Slowman has a special feeling for toxic bluesrock.

Gert-Ove Fridlund, Hallandsposten, Sweden

Many live in the delusion that Peps Persson and Sven Zetterberg fill the blues quota in Sweden

Many live in the delusion that Peps Persson and Sven Zetterberg fill the blues quota in Sweden. That’s easily rectified. Svante Törngren, Slowman if you wish, is the name of the key; with both soul and melodies he claims his obvious place.

Johan Kronquist, Rootsy.nu

The Robinson brothers (Black Crowes) are probably jealous

The Robinson brothers (Black Crowes) are probably jealous of Slowmans ability to write strong riffbased bluesrock pieces. On top, the guy’s a good singer!

Anders Carling, TrotsAllt, Sweden

Slowman sparks and sparkles.

Slowman sparks and sparkles.

Göteborgs Fria Tidning, Sweden

To someone who likes bluesrock, this is heaven

To someone who likes bluesrock, this is heaven! 15 real good pieces, outstanding guitar and a steady frontman.

Meadow Music, International

Well, he is back, and how!

Well, he is back, and how! With a bunch of very good songs and with excellent guitar work, throat and accompaniment. – And he knows damn well how to make a strong song.

Blues Magazine, Holland

A real rock artist with sturdy riffs and a steaming band.

A real rock artist with sturdy riffs and a steaming band. – A strong record with tracks that sticks.

Moors Magazine, Holland

Slowman takes courage from the roots swamp

Slowman takes courage from the roots swamp and invades the field of the ballad with class – Undeniable talent!

Roots Highway, Italy

He sure hasn’t forgotten how to sing or play guitar!

He sure hasn’t forgotten how to sing or play guitar! – A splendid production, each of every minute to enjoy.

www.gondola.hu, Hungary

About “I'm Back”

I'm Back

Worth the wait

Proves to be worth the wait. – Offers many moments for the air guitar player and furious foot tapper.

Gareth Hayes, Blues Matters

A brilliant second album

Slick, cool and dirty, The Silent years shows Slowman singing with his heart on his sleeve, playing a moody tune creating a great effect – I'm back is a brilliant second album.

Maverick, UK

Standing even more secure

The blues is what feels the most, the dist knob are cranked up a bit more, the edges not too polished and his got his hands deep down in classic, fertile timeless soil. I’d say that he’s standing even more secure with this new album.

Pär Berglund, Meadow Music

Palette with even more nuances

Slowman makes it again!The basic color may be blue, but the palette contains a whole lot of more nuances.

Johan Kronquist, Östgöta-Korrespondenten/Corren.se

Successful follow-up

Just like on the previous album, he has taken the best of American root music and added a personal touch. ”I'm Back” is a very successful follow-up.

Johan Annertorp, Rootsy.nu

A truly pleasing album!

Slowman is back where he started, with a collection of eleven thrilling blues songs – Slowman is finally ready to make his name as blues artist! 'I’m Back' is a very enjoyable album, with a couple of different sides and sub-genres, taken form the greater blues genre! A truly pleasing album!

Mr Blue Boogie, BillyBop

He delivers again

Unforgiveable, but it’s forgiven to Slowman that he waited more than 20 years to cherish our lives with his great bluesy tunes and fantastic singing. After the superb debut album ‘The Best Of Slowman’, he delivers again, with top class material. We now all sincerely hope that he’s back... to stay!

Valére Samperman, Rootstime

Not one dull moment!

A highly recommended purchase because of the mix of blues, rock and funk, close to guys like JJ Cale, Mark Knopfler and Peter Green. Slowman easily switches between styles, yet at the same time is a master at whatever he does – Not one dull moment!

Dietrich Gastrock, Home Of Rock

A nice string of pearls

With a wonderful mix of blues soul, country, gospel and rock, the wonderful songs on Slowman's second album ”I'm Back” makes a nice string of pearls.

Magnus Hårdstedt, Eskilstuna-kuriren

About “Hey Jimi”

Hey Jimi

Really catches the soul of Jimi Hendrix

Slowman's interpretation really catches the soul of Jimi Hendrix where it was somewhere between the sixties and the seventies! Hey Jimi – Listen and enjoy in your rock'n roll heaven!

Roger Skoog, nyaskivor.se

Slowman is a dedicated musician

It is clear that SLOWMAN is a dedicated musician, who gathered a few fellow musicians and recorded this high quality CD. He is quite familiar with Jimi's music as in the past he has done a lot of JIMI HENDRIX covers live on stage.

Strutterzine, Points: 8.0 out of 10

A solid tribute to the guitar king

A solid tribute to the guitar king. – The interaction often works well, especially on tracks like ”Purple Haze”, ”Foxy Lady” and ”Voodoo Child”. Here you find force and heaviness. – Extra fun that the musicians were attracted by Hendrix's bluesier side.

Gert-Ove Fridlund, Hallandsposten, SE

Great expressive guitar playing

They pull the songs a lot more towards rock and blues where they seem to thrive particularly well. Bonuses are Törngrens seductive vocals and especially his great expressive guitar playing. And a special mention to ”Electric Angel” – Very well done!

Ctrl Alt. Country e-zine, BE

Simply stunning!

What they conjure you can’t describe, it has to be heard – Simply stunning – and it still sounds just like Slowman. And that goes for every track, even the first track, written by Slowman. Here he manages to make the track sound as if it had been written by a mature, older Hendrix.

Dietrich Gastrock, Home of Rock, DE

About “Happy Boy”

Happy Boy

His best performance ever

It can be stated without any doubt that ‘Happy Boy’, the third record of Swedish singer-songwriter Slowman, is his best performance ever. Contemporary pop and rock songs that can easily face the competition with internationally established artists. If there is still any justice left in this world, Slowman absolutely deserves international recognition.

RootsTime, Belgium

A true gold nugget in the Swedish flow of music

Happy Boy offers of a bunch of great songs, with really good and recognizable lyrics. He has a very special talent, that's for sure. A true gold nugget in the Swedish flow of music that deserves much more attention than it probably will get. – I really fall for the ballads, where Slowman's feeling and voice emphasizes the desolation and sadness of wonderful compositions like 'Nothing to pretend' and 'What do we do now?'

Per Wikner, Obladoo, Sweden

Delivers with fire and conviction

Backed by a tight band and, notably on 'Into Gold', a stirring female gospel choir, Törngren delivers with fire and conviction in his voice while his lyrics make his songs well worth listening to for what they say as much as how they say it. The autobiographical ‘Drowning Stones’, with its express train shuffling rhythm, saloon boogie piano and occasional vocal echoes of Bruce Cockburn, and the inspirational ‘beauty in unexpected places’ themed ‘Where The Roses Grow’ are particularly potent.

Folking.com, UK

Surpasses our wildest expectations!

We already knew the Swede Svante ”Slowman” Törngren as a fantastic singer-songwriter and guitarist, but with his third album he really surpasses our wildest expectations! What a beautiful album he has made!

ALTCOUNTRY, Belgium

Read all reviews

Previous albums

Discography

About Slowman

Biography

Photo: Bengt Alm

The guitarist, singer and composer Svante Törngren ­ aka Slowman ­released his first solo album in 2008. It came after years of silence, a consequence of leaving the music industry in anger in the mid-1980s. During decades Svante Törngren devoted himself to live performances in a variety of constellations. Over the years he became a familiar profile on Stockholm¹s pub-scenes; often acclaimed for his Hendrix interpretations.

But slowly a pile of original songs grew in his desk drawer. After 24 years it was finally time for the solo debut with a selection of original compositions: ”The best of Slowman”. The album was praised by critics all over Europe, and in 2010 came an equally appreciated sequel: ”I'm back”. The same autumn, Slowman released a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his death: ”HEY JIMI - Slowman & Friends plays Hendrix”.

Svante Törngren was awarded with The Linköping Blues Association Scholarship in 2009, thereby joining Louise Hoffsten, Sven Zetterberg and other Swedish music profiles in the inner circle of the Swedish blues scene.

In 2014, Slowman released an EP with three Swedish songs as a trial balloon to test the public reaction to an optional Swedish album. The Swedish audience got the chance to vote in a poll and their wishes were loud and clear, they wanted to hear more of Slowman in Swedish. But Slowman himself added the Swedish material to the pile of unpublished material in the drawer and only plays the Swedish songs live at well-chosen occasions.

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Slow Records
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Renstiernas gata 30
SE-116 31 Stockholm
info@slowman.se