15th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF DEBUT ALBUM FROM SWEDISH / ARGENTINIAN. Originally released in 2003, Veneer is the debut studio album from Swedish born singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez and took nearly two years to make it to the US. Since its original release, Gonzalez's sparse recordings (usually just an acoustic guitar and double-tracked vocals) have serenaded large parts of the population to calm tranquility for 15 years. Now Mute is offering a limited edition pressing of this spine-tingling album. The standout of his debut is his cover of The Knife's "Heartbeats." Set to the sound of expertly finger picked guitar, the cover strips the original's electro pop down to a sweet lullaby. In doing so Gonzalez follows in the footsteps of other great folk covers like M. Ward's "Let's Dance," Iron & Wine's "Such Great Heights," and Frente!'s "Bizarre Love Triangle." Also included is a second LP which features the first-ever physical release of Gonzalez's 2007 Stay In The Shade EP, previously digital-only and including a cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart". For fans of Nick Drake, Emiliana Torriniand even Zero 7 (Gonzalez provides vocals on their 2006 release The Garden). Limited Edition Anniversary pressing of 1800 pressed on olive and gray vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve. 19 tracks in all. Released by Mute.
- olive and gray vinyl housed in gatefold sleeve
- edition of 1800
- 15th anniversary pressing with liner notes by Wyndham Wallace
- second LP features first-ever physical release of Gonzalez's 2007 Stay In The Shade EP, originally digital-only
- music label: Mute 2018
reviewed by RBG