It is nearly a decade since Swedish alt.folkie José González charmed the pants off everyone with his irresistible cover of ‘Heartbeats’ by fellow Swedes, The Knife. González followed up his best-selling debut quickly, but has subsequently taken eight years to release his eagerly anticipated third album. It opens on an impressive and arresting high ‘With the Ink of a Ghost’. In a world full of hypersensitive troubadours with beards and acoustic guitars, José stands out with his comforting voice and delicate arrangements.
He raises the pace with ‘Let It Carry You’ and ‘Leaf Off/The Cave’. Both tracks confirm González is not just a boy with a pretty voice: he has very unique way around a guitar and a song. Its manifest strengths notwithstanding, Vestiges & Claws falls short of a masterpiece. Still, it very effectively opens a new chapter on a fascinating career.

Key Tack - 'Leave Off/The Cave'