Although best known for his work with Sally Shapiro, Swedish musician and producer Johan Agebjörn has always maintained a parallel solo umbrella for his various arctic ambient, piano, instrumental, dance and remix projects.

‘Southern Forest’ is his first solo album of new material from Johan Agebjörn since ‘Notes’ a decade ago. It is a collection of nature-themed electronic chill-out set in a glorious cinematic space with an immersive sense of escapism. Inspired by the deep forests of Sweden, the album features collaborations with ambient legend Dr Atmo, Cate Brooks of THE ADVISORY CIRCLE, German synthwave queen NINA and fellow Swedes Miranda Magdalena and Mikael Ögren.

Featuring honest vocal ad-libs from Miranda Magdalena, ‘Where Earth & Heaven Meet’ offers rich and warm tones over subtle midtempo dance beats that reflect the spirituality of the title. The covers of THE ORB’s ‘Little Fluffy Clouds’ is Agebjörn’s musical “thank you” for its 30 years companionship in his life with NINA’s reprise of the original Ricki Lee Jones monologue adding a dreamy alluring quality to the organic beatless interpretation of the track.

One can imagine the ambient house of ‘Their Shadows’ with Mikael Ögren being turned into a full blown dance excursion but its pulsing hypnotism suits the mood of ‘Southern Forest’ perfectly. Their other collaboration ‘Shorefront’ evokes sunsets and seas but avoids those beach music clichés often found in chill-out. ‘On The Ground’ with Miranda Magdalena has this jazzy feel with busy if unobtrusive pulsations while on ‘Dusk’, Agebjörn provides a gentle melodic lattice for Miranda Magdalena’s subtle high vocals melt into the soundscape.

With Dr Atmo in the building, ‘By Lake Ruidh’ is swathed in breezy atmospheres and keyboard melodics but the drifting moods of ‘Starwoven’ provide a harp-like hypnotism in a collaboration with English electronic musician Cate Brooks. ‘Scars’ strips things down to piano while the fittingly titled ‘Closure’ takes on a rainy synthy backdrop.

A wonderful Nordic sonic tonic, ‘Southern Forest’ is an aural relaxant brimming with Agebjörn’s melodic sensibilities exuding throughout. Despite being electronic, it is extraordinarily earthy downtempo accompaniment suitable for both perking up in the morning or unwinding at night.

‘Southern Forest’ is released by Constellation Tatsu on 30th September 2025, available as a digital album from https://agebjorn.bandcamp.com/album/southern-forest

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Text by Chi Ming Lai
29th September 2025