Where Does The Light Go?
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
Listen to Where Does The Light Go?
A guitarist, composer and producer, Philadelphia’s Ross Bellenoit is in fine company here as members of The Stray Birds and Amos Lee help him flesh out 11 Americana influenced tunes where themes of love, loss and secrets are present and delivered thoughtfully.
Bellenoit starts the album with the energetic and warm acoustic strumming of the title track, where Americana meets some pop influences, and “For Friends” follows with plenty of rhythm present in the folk inspired setting that’s festive and not short on vocal harmonies, too.
Closer to the middle, “Seventy Two” enters ballad territory where soft piano and pedal steel set the mood, while “Let My Love Be Free” benefits greatly from trombone and clarinet as well as Bellenoit’s falsetto in the romantic atmosphere. “Secret”, one of the album’s best, then recruits a string section in the sophisticated, poetic, sublime delivery.
Near the exit, “Forgiveness” displays excellent guitar work in Bellenoit’s moving Americana formula, and “The Perfect Parade” finishes out the listen soft and expressive and is both cautious and playful.
Bellenoit has an impressive resume, including studying jazz guitar, and he also plays in the funk trio Muscle Tough, as well as the kid’s band Alex And The Kaleidoscope. Let’s hope he still finds plenty of time for his solo work, too, as his formula is one that resonates well and is easy to absorb.
Travels well with: Wilco- Sky Blue Sky; Richard Thompson- 13 Rivers