H.C. McEntire

Every Acre

Merge, 2023

8/10

Listen to Every Acre

An artist who made quite an impression as the front woman for Mount Moriah, these days H.C. McEntire is making excellent solo records, and this 3rd one contains plenty of harmonic and melodic folk-influenced sounds.

“New View” starts the listen with warm, radiant guitar alongside McEntire’s soulful, poetic singing that’s raw and gorgeous, and “Shadows” follows with S.G. Goodman’s stirring backing vocals helping guide the intimate, reflective climate.

In the middle, “Dovetail” recruits Luke Norton’s moving keys that complement McEntire’s absorbing pipes, while “Rows Of Clover” benefits much from Daniel Faust’s agile drumming that helps cultivate fuller delivery of well thought out song craft.

Near to the end, “Wild For The King” emits soothing vocal harmonies in its lush textures of sublime beauty, and “Gospel Of A Certain Kind” makes great use of Casey Toll’s strategic bass for the dreamy exit.

Primarily a slow burning affair, Every Acre is a wise, emotive and honest body of work that continues to reveal the seemingly boundless creative spirit of McEntire.

Travels well with: The Bad Ends- The Power And The Glory; Sunny War- Simple Syrup