Fossils, the compelling second album from agglomerated unit Kjellvandertonbruket (Swedish singer/songwriter Christian Kjellvander plus the quartet Tonbruket, led by former EST bassist Dan Berglund) was recorded across four days in the hamlet of Bottna, Bohuslän in Sweden. Kjellvander evokes the setting beautifully: "The feeling in this part of northern Bohuslän is dense as you cruise between ancient monuments and petroglyphs. There is something mysterious about the meadows that were once the bottom of the sea. When the fog rolls in between the hills, it feels like the water is taking its place again and the hills are cobbles in the sea again."

Accordingly, there's lots of atmosphere in the resulting recording, with the five cuts stretching out over 43 minutes. Kjellvander is a storyteller in the moody tradition of Leonard Cohen et al; Berglund's troupe provide playful and dramatic musical settings. If you’re in a hurry and like musicians to get to the point, you probably won't much enjoy it, but if you have the inclination and time to immerse yourself you should find yourself richly rewarded.