Born 53 - Turnpike (2025) Hi-Res

Turnpike is the 6th album by the Born 53 since the start in the early 2000’s. This latest album, produced by Alar Suurna, could have been subtitled “Half-American Blues”. Much of its style and heart is americana with topical content and impressions of events from the last decade flashing by, song by song. On Turnpike, the title track, songwriter Anders Lindh describes travelling through the American south a couple of decades back. “The News” and “Nowhere” are comments on ‘alternative facts’ and growing authoritarianism in our time. There are also tips of the hat to songwriter and hero Ronnie Lane in “Short Move”. and, in “Walking The Lawn”, to Sir Tom Moore who, 99 years old, during the pandemic, walked round his garden in support of the NHS, All lyrics on the new album are originals, written by singer Anders Lindh, who also share music credits with guitarist Hans Birkholz. Åsa Källén-Lindh sings lead on 3 tracks, plus harmony and choir arrangements throughout the album. Birkholz adds inventive arrangements and stringed instrumentations of all kinds, while ace base player Lars-Gunnar Larsson and emphatic drummer Alar Suurna debuts on a Born 53 album, along with keyboardist Robert Fekete. Alar Suurna’s production on Turnpike takes Born 53 to a new level, giving the band both an artful and commercial sounding boost.

Rooted in the British ‘60s folk era with some true & pure Americana the songs get off to a rousing start with the title cut “Turnpike.” Tight performances, thudding drums & interplay that is gutsy with a melodic vocal that drives forward with an impulsive expressiveness.