CHESS På Svenska: Fan Review - Steve Rolfe

I got "Chess På Svenska" earlier this week and it's excellent!

I'm going to be completely predictable and say that Helen Sjöholm is the highlight of the album and her voice just makes me want to wallow in it's beauty. Is there anything this woman can't sing? She has made these songs her own and I just knew she would. She never disappoints she simply impresses every time she sings. "Lamna inga dörrar på glänt" (Nobody's Side) is superb. It's one of my favourite songs from "Chess" and Helen does a wonderful rendition. "Inte jag" (Someone Else's Story) is just breathtaking and is easily the best version of this song I have heard. Her emotional delivery is outstanding and left me speechless and I would love her to record an English version at some point.

"Om han van här" (Haven Help My Heart) is as lovely as ever. Sadly ""Jag vet vad han vill" (I Know Him So Well) is let down by Josefin Nilsson's awful performance. Her voice just grates and sounds harsh and as if she's been smoking 60 cigarettes a day! Not very nice but she does sound good on "Han är en man, han ät ett barn". Her voice suits the style of song but for some reason she sounds quite horrific on her duet with Helen.

Anders Ekborg has finally done what I thought was impossible. He has finally recorded "Vem set ett barn" (Pity The Child) that I can listen to. He doesn't strain for the notes, doesn't gasp for air and doesn't over do it. His performance is so dynamic and so passionate and all the more powerful. A stunning performance. His voice is fantastic.

Tommy Körberg breezes through these songs and sounds as amazing as ever. "I mitt hjärtas land" (Anthem) is such a beautiful song and the Swedish version somehow gives it more mystery and passion. "Där jag ville vara" (Where I Want To Be) is still forceful and edgy.

"Jag ville se schack" (The Arbiter) is fantastic and would only be improved if it were sung by a singer with a good voice. Benny says he can't do pop music anymore. Bollocks! A pounding, throbbing beat make this sound amazing and would go down a storm as a club.

Someone mentioned that "Glom mig om du kan" would sound better with a female vocal and I agree 100 percent. The melody is feminine and a woman should sing it and I hope that Helen does a version someday. However Per Myrberg really does give it something and his voice is really striking.

Buy "Chess På Svenska" because it's like listening to "Chess" for the very first time.

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Steve Rolfe. Hampshire. England. U.K.