Persuader, The - Stockholm

The debut album from The Persuader, STOCKHOLM, remains an overlooked gem of deep house. The house-breaks of “Slussen” and the robot funk of “Centralbron” still sound relevant today, while “Strombron” and “Djurgardsbron” edge into moodier territory. “Vasastaden” gets us back into the sunny part of the house, while “Mosebacke” edges into the dub room. And even though “Kungsbron” takes its harp arpeggio from a well-travelled disco track, the final results are still ethereal. For full-out disco, “Sodermalm” begs for the platform shoes and sequins to come out. The interlude “Kungsholmen” drifts along in a haze of downtempo jazz, and “Gamla Stan” takes the album out in full funk mode. A rich album that should have you booking a ticket to Sweden as soon as possible.

This is an essential moment in the history of deep house music. Dahlbäck asserts his talent and mastery over a series of very personal tracks, expertly bringing forth a warm, perhaps even melancholy atmosphere alongside jazzy elements. Each track is named after an area in Stockholm, and understandably each piece follows its own aesthetic. Even still, the whole album comprises a range of music with consistent depth and mood. My picks would be "Östermalm," "Gamla Stan," and "Vasastaden."