Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Avicii, Universal Music Australia 2019.
Tim Bergling was a Swedish born songwriter, producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist who sadly passed away on 20 April 2018 at 29 years of age.
He had suffered from mental health issues for many years and unfortunately he took his own life while in Muscat, Oman. He is buried in his hometown of Stockholm.
Although his friends knew he suffered from depression his suicide took them by surprise because at the time of his death he seemed to be the happiest and most creative he had been in ages.
As 2018 dawned he was excited about the new batch of songs he was working on and he told his colleagues and friends that for the first time in several years it was fun and exhilarating to make music again.
The drive and inspiration was back and he had plans.
He was working with a trio of teams: Albin Nedler and Kristoffer Fogelmark; Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir; and Carl Falk, Joakim Berg and Joe Janiak, all of whom had collaborated extensively with him throughout his career, and the songs were shaping up to be amongst the best he’d ever written.
And then he was gone.
But the work didn’t end because each team made the decision to complete the songs in his memory.
And so they began with the expressed desire to preserve as much of Tim’s fingerprints as possible on the finished product.
The 12 tracks on Tim are as much a testament to the love and devotion of Bergling’s friends as they are a fitting tribute to a multi-talented, but fragile, human being who could conjure magic in the recording studio.
Tim Bergling, known by his performance name Avicii, was a musician who knew no boundaries to his musical expression.
His influences came from all parts of the world and from all possible genres. His ears didn’t know the concept of prejudice.
He was once booed at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami 2013 when he introduced a dance song with influences from bluegrass and country.
A few months later that song, Wake Me Up, was one of the biggest songs in the world.
Until this album I knew nothing about Tim Bergling but I can tell you that I feel the loss that we’ve all suffered as a result of his passing.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing mental issues please seek help.
Lifeline 13 11 14. Beyond Blue beyondblue.org.au or 1300 22 4636.
