Nils Lassen’s “Fingerprints” is a focused, emotionally grounded debut that doesn’t rely on nostalgia or sonic gimmicks. Coming from years with BlackieBlueBird, Nils trades dreampop haze for something sharper. The music is still atmospheric, but now cuts deeper. The album is driven by layers: male and female vocal harmonies, expressive orchestration, and guitars that grind more than they glide.
Nils deals in subtle observations rather than dramatic declarations. There’s an understated quality to his writing. Tomas Ortved’s drums and contributions from Anders Wallin and Marianne van Toornburg give the project a lived-in, human feel.
The album begins with a line that could easily be shrugged off, and my favorite songs are definitely ‘Going nowhere and hope to get there soon” and ‘All dressed up and nowhere to go”. Nils builds on that ambiguity to explore themes of presence and memory with clarity. “Fingerprints” is one of the most outstanding albums I’ve heard this month.
If this album hits you like it did me, give Nils Lassen a follow. You’ll want to hear what’s next.
