José González has been working with String Theory for a decade now, but the collaboration never ceases to awe the Swedish singer and songwriter — and the rendition of his “Let It Carry You,” premiering below from his new Live In Europe album, gives a good indication why.
“It’s been a real pleasure to hear my sort of simple songs being fleshed out in this way,” González tells Billboard. “We started 10 years ago with only one song (‘Cycling Trivialities’) and then did a full show. The initial feeling was being humbled by all the additional harmonies that came out, and a pride, almost — I didn’t write the arrangements, but I did the original songs, and suddenly they became so much more. And it’s been great to be able to continue the relationship.”
Live In Europe comes out Feb. 22 and was recorded during his 2018 European tour with String Theory. It features songs from González’s three solo studio albums, with some treated in significantly different ways — such as the “bombastic” rendition of “Far Away” — plus covers of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” and the Knife’s “Heartbeats.” The nine-minute rendering of “Let It Carry You,” meanwhile, is one of his favorites from the set, with a more pronounced groove and an intricate array of textures.
“We did, like, a pre-rehearsal with only the percussion section of the orchestra, before they even wrote any arrangements,” González recalls. “So there was just a groove that worked with the song, this mellow but heavy groove. But what makes the arrangement stand out for me is the middle part, that interlude that is very dreamy and brings out the essence of the lyrics in a way that I love. I had high ambitions when I was writing lyrics in general for the latest album (2015’s Vestiges & Claws) but I think my arrangements didn’t reach that far. With the orchestra they reach way farther.”
González and String Theory are bringing the show to North America, with 16 shows commencing March 18 in Boston and wrapping up April 6-7 in Los Angeles. González is also writing his next solo album, which he says is “coming along slowly” and is also mindful of where String Theory may be able to fit subsequently.
“I did that for Vestiges & Claws, especially on the song ‘Every Age’ where I deliberately kept the guitar very simple and could hear the orchestration in my mind while wring the song,” González says. “I understood that if I just focus on getting my solo songs good for one guitar and vocals that there will be room to bring in more later, so that’s my plan again now.”
The Live in Europe track list includes:
1. What If
2. Every Age
3. Let It Carry You
4. The Forest
5. Cycling Trivialities
6. Crosses
7. Abram
8. Prism Part Blue
9. Vissel
10. Heartbeats
11. Down The Line
12. Stories We Build, Stories We Tell
13. Leaf Off / The Cave
14. Teardrop
José González and The String Theory North American Tour
March 18 – Boston, MA – Boston Symphony Hall
March 19 – Buffalo, NY – Center for the Arts at University of Buffalo
March 20 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
March 21 – New York, NY – Apollo Theater
March 22 – New York, NY – Apollo Theater
March 23 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
March 25 – Montreal, QC – Maison Symphonique
March 26 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
March 27 – Kalamazoo, MI – State Theatre
March 28 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
March 31 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
April 2 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
April 4 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
April 5 – Reno, NV – Pioneer Center
April 6 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Theatre
April 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Theatre