Alberta Cross

In late October, Alberta Cross’ dreamy americana filled the Muziekgieterij studio in Maastricht. The music of the band around Swedish singer and guitarist Petter Ericson Stakee is atmospheric and cinematic. The songs are drawn out and brimming with melancholy. And although Alberta Cross has a sound all its own, you can hear that Stakee is indebted to such greats as Neil Young and Jim James.

Petter Ericson Stakee climbed onto a stool next to Heaven editor Ludo Diels after the session for a good conversation. They talked about ominous song titles, dramatic metaphors, chaos in the world and melancholy as the raw material for good music. “With misery comes a lot of good stuff, sadly.

Photo: Hugo Thomassen