Danish alternative troubadour Rexen’s new album ‘The Chauffeur’ startles from the outset. The self-proclaimed feminist sets about with deconstructing and fixing toxic masculinity. No small feat at all, and an album loaded with bravery and insight, this conversation-starter of a record informs the start of the year deliciously, and does so in grandiose fashion loaded with uniqueness and theatricality.
Besides the fact that the tunes are there, catching his desired fish, reeling them in, dealing with them as he then sees fit, the lyrics merit closer attention. The lyrics gut the historical image of a man and his actions like a fish, taking it apart in multiple song episodes, offering something new, a way forwards, a light at the end of a tunnel. The album is littered with little literary gems, telling signals of what Rexen has seen, felt, heard, and learnt along the way.
The contrast, refreshing, modern, enlightened, gives the songs a dark, tangible glow. Even when minimalist acoustic songs, they reflect a brighter future than what has come before, something about them pulsating far greater than their immediate shapes.
From the opening slow groove and how Rexen’s voice slides in, it feels like being welcomed into an adult lullaby, words and soul that are worth attending to wholeheartedly. Single ‘Hollywood’ teeters on the brink, dramatic strings, programmed drums, a minimal yet cinematic feel to it. The title track’s gruff opening vocal notes are sublimely captured storytelling, Rexen barking and whispering at once, the acoustic guitar spinning a masterful web around the warm and brutal luscious tone, as he sings about being ‘authentic’ – truly an accomplishment in itself nowadays and one to be greatly commended.
Midway track ‘My Heart’ embodies a slow-burning Danish soul song with a twist, strings swooping and soaring as Rexen explores the territory of contemplating his own heart and soul.
While there are definite peaks and troughs to the record over its 40 minutes, it does capture the desired effect, a profound statement made, the mission of the music coming off in the songs well. Repeated listens present an album well worth your time and attention, and somehow, even when he is at his most quiet, the album screams into the ether demanding you to sit up, contemplate the message, and allow the songs to resonate, as they surely would, far and wide.
These are songs to be shared, to be admired, and to be genuinely listened to. ‘The Chauffeur’ is made up of 11 tracks telling a story that is essential to follow, a whole that is impossible to ignore. While the topic might ordinarily make for uneasy listening, the way Rexen has inimitably approached it, and in a timely manner too, has made it both accessible and inspirational for all.
Rexen’s voice is compelling, occasionally ferocious, and there it lives at its best, the deeper resonance packing a masterful and human punch. In other moments, he is almost whispering, high-pitched, an elegant crooning. The range of the voice accurately captures the strength and vulnerability the album aims for.
Sit back, chill out, and allow ‘The Chauffeur’ to take you on a ride to somewhere unexpectedly beautiful. Out of sorrow and anguish – and a brave look at where we as a species are going wrong – comes bliss. The journey and not the destination is what matters. Rexen must have come an awfully long way.
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