Jose Gonzalez - Veneer (2003)

Escaping the Argentinian dictyatorship, José's parents settled in Sweden. And it was in Goteborg that he was born in 1978. Before turning to folk, José González played mainly with Swedish hardcore punk groups. Veneer, the Swedish debut album was released in 2003 in Sweden and in 2005 in the rest of the world.

Here, no band, no bass, no electric guitar, no drums, no orchestra. José's voice is only accompanied by a single guitar and a few trumpet notes on the last track. But he masters the instrument perfectly, making a second skin.

The Veneer cover is sober because that is not the important thing. The important thing is what hides the elegant and subtle notes of this album. His guitar and his sweet melodic voice. It is therefore a very intimate record that propose José González. It can be reminiscent of a Nick Drake universe for example. A man alone with his guitar for more than thirty minutes might be scary, but don't run away, it isn't. It's beautiful, full of emotion, from the very first chords of Slow Moves, skilfully constructed. Few words in each title, everything is said in a few words. These deep and low notes take you to the guts, even the trembling and controlled voice of José.

Video of Slow Moves

And the rest is beautiful. Heartwarming. Remain, Lovestain. The songs are short. Heartbeats (cover of the Swedish group The Knive) and then the masterpiece Crosses. You can't help but be captivated by these notes, these chords and this voice. The video is like this title. Sober, simple and attractive.

Video of Crosses

We continue the road with Deadweight on Velveteen, on which José shows his dexterity and his great mastery of his acoustic guitar. Calm and voluptuousness. All You Deliver, Stay In The Shade, with the admirable guitar phrasing, the pulsating Hints, make us bitterly regret that Veneer only lasts thirty minutes.

Live video of Stay In The Shade

The start of Save Your Day could be a sounstrack. The guitar playing is not always clean, José González leaves some roughness here and there. And that's good. It's human. The two minutes of Broken Arrow already close Veneer. It is at the end that we can hear the trumpet. Trumpet which was not so necessary I grant you.

Video of Deadweight on Velveteen

A musician who is there for the music. A true composer, a mood maker. It's ascetic, thrifty, and that's why it's beautiful.