After listening, you can take Kristofer Astrom's CD out of the changer, but it will still be playing in your head for a long time to come. Astrom writes stunningly memorable music. Most of the time, Loupita presents the songs unadorned, allowing sensuous melodies to make their persuasive case. Abetted by golden-voiced Britta Persson and Mattias Friberg, Astrom crafts delicate acoustic arrangements. During the course of the album, two instrumentals entitled "Loupita" appear - evocative and formidable interludes interspersing the songs proper. The third "Loupita" adds haunting, almost murmured, singing.

I about fell over the first time that I heard Persson and Astrom duet on "Wild;" their dovetailing vocal harmonies are picture perfect and incredibly lovely. "Spinning" is a rousing alt-folk number, while "I am Not the Case" reveals the vulnerable side of Astrom's artistry. I'm glad that CDs don't wear out (or so they tell me); otherwise, I would be in danger of doing just that to my copy of Loupita, which has no chance of leaving my changer anytime soon. - Christian Carey