Swedish one-man band Emil Svanängen is back as Loney Dear with his self-titled eighth studio album, and if "Humbug" is anything to go by it could be his most lush and complete yet.
Far from some Bert from Mary Poppins situation, Svanängen composes and plays full band arrangements from the comfort of his own home with gorgeous results. "Humbug" chugs along relentlessly, with grandiose synths and strings soaring alongside the beautiful melodies that fill it.
It feels like a completion of sorts of the intimate and introspective lyricism enveloped in sweeping movement and swell that defines Svanängen's sound. Elegantly crafted, it's more understated than previous Loney Dear releases but still well and truly hits the mark. Loney Dear is out now through Real World Records.