Taken By Trees’ “East of Eden” filled with charm

On the follow-up to her beautiful, breezy debut, Swedish songstress and The Concretes ex-member Victoria Bergsman, a.k.a. Taken By Trees, crafts a unique and foreign atmosphere, all the while maintaining the sense of charm and simplicity that made her debut such a treat.

Recorded indoors and outdoors in Pakistan, “East of Eden” is heavily influenced by the traditional music of South Asia. Bergsman even employs a handful of local Pakistani musicians to contribute, giving the record a rich and authentic sound. In fact, one track on the album, “Wapas Karna,” is performed entirely by locals without any contribution from Bergsman.

Bergman’s beautiful voice, which listeners may recognize from Peter Bjorn and John’s infectious and damn-near-impossible-to-escape 2006 super-single, “Young Folks,” is light-weight and ethereal, hovering just above a whisper at all times, but never failing to cut through the mix.

Produced by Dan Lissvik, member of remarkable Swedish space-disco duo Studio, “East of Eden” blends the South Asian influence seamlessly with a more modern beat-driven sound. No track displays this better than “Anna,” easily the strongest song on the album.

“Anna” begins with the sound of Pakistani children chanting and clapping, before a cyclical keyboard phrase finds its way into the mix. Traditional South Asian drums pitter and patter, while one of Dan Lissvik’s trademark beats bumps and claps. The chorus and bridge also feature an excellent guest appearance from Noah Lennox, better known for his solo work as Panda Bear and as a member of Animal Collective, who’s angelic voice fits the track perfectly.

“East of Eden” also features a cover of Animal Collective’s 2009 indie hit, “My Girls,” though Bergsman cleverly changed the title to “My Boys”. The song is the album’s most whimsical track, never taking itself too seriously, but manages to stay faithful to not only the original, but also to the rest of the album’s sound.

One of the album’s most pleasant surprises is the lilting, just-barely-there closer, “Bekannelse,” which finds Bergsman singing in her native Swedish (the song’s title means “confession”). The track floats, drones and hums, bringing to mind the haze of a pink Pakistani sunset. Haunting, peaceful and undeniably gorgeous, “Bekannelse” is the perfect closer to an excellent album.

Fans of Camera Obscura, The Concretes, Nico and Jens Lekman will find plenty to enjoy here.

“East of Eden” will be released Sept. 8 on Rough Trade Records.

4 out of 5 stars.