Taken By Trees — East Of Eden

Taken By Trees is the alias of Sweden's Victoria Bergsman — once lead singer for The Concretes, and known the world over for her vocal role in Peter Bjorn And John's "Young Folks."

Bergman purportedly found her inspiration for this sophomore album in the music of Pakistan, but East Of Eden sounds decidedly Caribbean. Breezy, wistful, bongo-clad openers "To Lose Someone" and "Anna" could have been taken straight from the Cocktail soundtrack. The remainder the disc's songs more or less follow that same mold.

Bergsman's Taken By Trees venture is strangely reminiscent of Isobel Campbell's The Gentle Waves. You can tell both women are talented musicians and singers and they're trying very hard to make good music, but their finished products are just so frustratingly uninteresting.

East Of Eden would probably be an enjoyable listen while drifting on a boat in the middle of the sea. Outside of those circumstances, it won't be especially useful.

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