Tokunbo

Golden Days

Inakustik, 2022

8/10

Listen to Golden Days

An artist with an impressive voice and who meshes folk, pop and even country into her inimitable formula, Tokunbo points towards the ‘70s with these 11 tunes that comprise her 3rd solo album.

The title track opens the listen with light drums, gentle brass and agile guitar, as Tokunbo’s soulful and pretty pipes guide the warm landscape, and “Home Again” follows with more emphasis on percussion as a breezy melody enters the folky-pop climate.

In the middle, strings make an appearance on the intimate and poetic “Near & Far”, while “Curtains” showcases some pop influences alongside the jazz nods that are as mature as they are inviting.

Near to the end, “House Of Cards” embraces sophisticated piano and orchestral strings in the album highlight that truly shows the depth of Tokunbo’s voice, and “Miles Away” exits the listen with cozy acoustic strumming and glowing singing.

Tokunbo made a name for herself as an integral member of Tok Tok Tok from 1998 to 2013, and she’s bringing that experience and talent to a thriving solo career, as evidenced by this well thought out and precisely executed listen.

Travels well with: Quadro Nuevo- Odyssee- A Journey Into The Light; Andreas Hinterseher- Stay Away And Play!

Luminous Beings

Horrors

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Horrors

The brainchild of the guitarist and singer Michael Wright, as Luminous Beings he balances both abrasive bouts and delicate moments, where a cinematic backdrop and calculated noise make for this very exciting debut album.

“The Watchmaker’s Son” opens the listen with thundering drums and a driving, ominous quality that blends post-punk and metal as hazy vocals enter the dreamy but volatile climate, and “Life-Giver” continues the formula with shimmering post-rock ideas amid the thick bouts of post-hardcore.

“Bodies” lands in the middle and brings much textured beauty to the affair with slow buzzing synth that builds into a firm display of post-metal, while “Serenity” is just that, a quick moment of cascading waves of warmth that are meditative.

“Ouroboros” and “Ednew” exit the listen, where the former meshes power and melody superbly, and the latter showcases an impressive range vocally as a cathartic presence makes an indelible impression.

Wright wrote and performed this entire record, and while similarities to Deftones, Sparta or Far won’t go unnoticed, he’s certainly carving out his own path, and it is one that should be of particular interest to the post-metal/punk/hardcore crowd.

Travels well with: Little King- Amuse D Q; Dewey Defeats Truman- The Way You Shatter

David Larsen

G2 And You

G2, 2022

8/10

Listen to G2 And You

The saxophonist, composer and educator David Larsen assembles a pair of EPs here, where Danny McCollim (keyboards), Josh Skinner (bass), and Brendan McMurphy (drums) accompany him across the 8 diverse and timeless selections.

“Angel Eyes” opens the listen with soulful brass, warm keys and plenty of emotion in the very precise climate, and this approach continues to the agile and glowing “Another Porter Please”, as well as the cultured rhythm of “Latin Silver”.

The back half of the listen leads with the playful sax and crisp drumming of “Autumn Leaves”, while “Bright Days” moves quickly amid strategic bass and well timed keys that help make this the album’s best. “Through And Through” exits the listen, and presents a graceful, flowing and lush version of jazz sensibilities that we could never tire of.

As always, Larsen’s performance is flawless, and the players on hand certainly illuminate his esteemed vision of jazz that occasionally swings, is often soothing, and will always be relevant.

Travels well with: Kenny Shanker- Vortex; Aaron Bazzell- Aesthetic

We Are Scientists

Huffy

Masterswan, 2022

8/10

Listen to Huffy

I’ve actually never listened to We Are Scientists before, which might seem odd considering I’m a huge Cap’n Jazz fan (who I’ve only recently come to find out they didn’t lift their name from).

Huffy, the 7th album from Keith Murray and Chris Cain, i.e. We Are Scientists, certainly seems made for the summer, with its radiant melodies, sappy love songs and body moving tunes that you really can’t not adore.

“You Lost Your Shit” gets the listen off to an energetic start, where thumping drums, charged, buzzing guitars and smooth vocals meet at a place where indie-rock and garage-rock intersect, and “Contact High” follows with swirling melodies that emit both busy and calmer moments of animated modern rock.

Packed in the middle is the the pop-friendly and dance floor ready “Just Education”, as well as the cultured and breezy demeanor of “Sentimental Education”, where the upbeat flavor is as infectious as it is memorable.

Further still, “Bought Myself A Grave” recruits acoustic guitar to the folky-pop ideas that surround the dreamy harmonies, and “Behavior Unbecoming” exits the listen with traces of post-punk (The Cure!) amid the bouncy bass, crisp drumming and skilled singing.

A record that combines punk, indie, disco and pop, if the 6 albums before this one are just as well done, I’m going to have to devote further time to We Are Scientists’ back catalog. But not after I listen to Huffy a dozen more times.

Travels well with: Maximo Park- The National Health; The Vaccines- Back In Love City

Ian Wardenski Quintet

Trust

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Trust

A theorist, composer, guitarist and educator, Ian Wardenski is joined by Mercedes Beckman (alto sax), Jerry Ascione (piano), Amy Shook (bass), Frank Russo (drums) and Tamara Tucker (vocals) for this chamber influenced jazz affair.

“Before Long” gets the listen off to a frisky, dynamic start with wordless vocals, lively drumming and plenty of animated sax playing, and “Curiosity” follows with agile piano and plenty of rhythm that’s delivered with style and playfulness.

In the middle, “Trust” showcases Tucker’s gorgeous pipes alongside spirited guitar work in the reflective climate, while “Necessity Needs Another Mother” is a bit more firm with some rock’n’roll influence amid the creative bass lines.

“Matching Energies Modulus” exits the listen with 3 segments, where it starts with animated drumming and continues with bright brass and soaring vocal acrobatics. By the time we’re at the end, it’s steeped in free jazz exploration that you can’t help but admire.

A very precise listen that uses traditional elements while being heavy on texturing and atypical rhythm, Wardenski and company pen an album that all fans of modern jazz will enjoy immensely.

Travels well with: Kenny Shanker- Vortex; Joe LoCascio- Book Of Days

Baby Fire

Grace

Off, 2022

8/10

Listen to Grace

A Brussels alt-rock trio that uses violin, theremin and looping to their advantage, the multi-instrumentalists Dominique Van Cappellen-Waldock, Lucile Beauvais and Cécile Gonay, i.e. Baby Fire, make a very curious and exciting 10 tracks here.

The listen starts off with the jagged guitar and orchestral nods of “A Spell”, where nearly operatic singing helps make for a very distinct version of chamber-rock, and “Fleur de Feu” follows with a swirling display of post-punk that’s quite mesmerizing in its darker textures.

Halfway through, “Grace” features Mike Moya (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) for the haunting, nearly goth nods, while “Dance” recruits Déhá for the bass heavy and thumping drums that you could dance to.

Closer to the end, “Sing In Brightness” is quite bare in a mysterious, ominous sort of way, and “Eternal” features Laetitia Sheriff for a vocally soothing and musically sparse display of beauty and grit.

A listen that’s both powerful and delicate, even soulful at times, Cappellen-Waldock’s stirring pipes and the band’s unorthodox approach to song craft might make you might think of Shannon Wright or P.J. Harvey as reference points, but ultimately Baby Fire are on a path entirely their own, and we’re all better off for it.

Travels well with: You Said Strange- Thousand Shadows Vol. 1; The Poison Arrows- War Regards

Steven Casper & Cowboy Angst

Hey!

Silent City, 2022

8/10

Listen to Hey!

You might consider Steven Casper a country, blues, folk or rock artist, or perhaps a bit of all of those styles, and together with Carl Byron (piano, Hammond B-3, accordion), Dan Wistrom (guitars, lap steel, backing vocals), Alex U-Ren (bass, backing vocals), Jim Doyle (drums) and many guests, he brings us diverse and well crafted tunes.

“Easy” opens the listen with warm and melodic country-rock that’s quite breezy but still with some grit amid the agile guitars and strategic piano, and “Hey!” follows with a retro feel that showcases proficient drumming and smooth vocals.

“By Your Side” occupies the middle spot, and makes great use of accordion alongside the dreamy climate, while “Howling At The Moon (Wine And Weed)” recruits folk-friendly nods in the album highlight.

Close to the end, “Cold Dark Hole” is indeed a bit darker in scope and embraces vivid storytelling alongside the precise rhythm section, and “Motherless Child” exits with moody pedal steel to complement the ambient finish that takes a tone that certainly parallels the song subject of despair and isolation.

This is Casper’s 3rd album, and his work has already been featured on the series True Blood. He births a very distinct and memorable version of Americana, and it’s one that can certainly be enjoyed far beyond the 8 tracks here.

Travels well with: Christopher Lockett- At The Station; Tom Rodwell- Wood & Waste

Edie Carey

The Veil

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Veil

The esteemed singer-songwriter Edie Carey returns with an 11th album, where she continues her rich and timeless song craft with themes of love, life and longing.

Carey puts the title track in the lead off position, where her very expressive pipes guide the soft, mysterious intimacy, and “The Old Me” follows with mesmerizing acoustic guitar alongside light drumming as a very poetic delivery unfolds with much beauty.

Moving along, the warm piano of “The Day You Were Born” helps cultivate a very heartfelt, emotive presence, as does the vivid storytelling of the piano ballad “Teacher”, which builds into a fuller, lush version of Americana.

Approaching the end, “Who I Was” offers a textured and powerful display of Carey’s soaring vocals, and “You’re Free” exits the listen with gentle acoustic guitar to accompany the eloquent singing.

Carey actually had aspirations to be a doctor, but her path towards music has kept her quite busy for 20+ years now, which is great for us, cause she’s making some very thoughtful and memorable indie-folk.

Travels well with: Amy Speace- Tucson; Jonatha Brooke- The Sweetwater Sessions

Amit Peled

Solus Et Una

CTM, 2022

8/10

Listen to Solus Et Una

Amit Peled knows his way around a cello, and here he brings us a pair of J.S. Bach’s Suites that he fine tuned during the lonely and long months of lockdown.

The first 6 tracks belong to “Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major for Violoncello solo, BMV 1010”, where “Prelude” opens the composition with much warmth and precision as Peled’s string acrobatics are quite mesmerizing. This continues to the playful and upbeat “Courante”, as well as the meticulous string manipulation of the emotive “Gigue”.

The back of the listen is populated by “Suite No. 5 in C-Minor for Violoncello solo, BWV 1011”, where “Allemande” showcases incredible progressions that are as fascinating as they are stirring, while “Sarabande” flows with a hint of melancholy that’s quite alluring. “Gigue” exits the listen, and presents an unparalleled amount of skill and timelessness in Peled’s very capable hands.

Peled’s interpretation of these classics is nothing short of stunning, and it won’t be long until “Suite No. 6” is available for our listening pleasure, too.

Travels well with: Palaver Strings- Ready Or Not; Eric Nathan- Missing Words

Justin Golden

Hard Times And A Woman

Self-Released, 2022

9/10

Listen to Hard Times And A Woman

The guitarist and singer-songwriter Justin Golden might be known as a bluesman, but this exceptional debut doesn’t hide his interest in plenty of other genres, too, and his time spent living in Virginia is certainly evident in the fingerpicking and often lush landscapes.

“Can’t Get Right” starts the album off with warm, bluesy guitar and Golden’s soulful and cozy vocals guiding the agile melodies, and “Ain’t Just Luck” follows with crisp drums from Drew Barnocky as some grit enters the cautious Americana.

Approaching the halfway point, “Must Be Honey” offers a playful and sweet version of folk-rock that benefits from Tyler Meacham’s strategic organ, while “Why The Sun Goes Down” charges forward with a busier display of country rock ideas amid soothing backing vocals.

Near to the end, the fuzzy and louder “If I Keep It Together”, the album’s best, offers some sturdy blues rock, and “Oh Lord, Oh Lord” recruits Eli Hubbard’s banjo and Andrew Alli’s well timed harmonica for the gospel flavored exit.

An artist who can remind you of James Taylor, Taj Mahal or even modern day indie-sounds like Hiss Golden Messenger, Justin Golden is a name you’ll be hearing a lot more about, so you may as well just pick this first album up and be enamored.

Travels well with: Steve Dawson- at the bottom of a canyon in the branches of a tree; Dedicated Men Of Zion- Can’t Turn Me Around

Dewaere

What Is Pop Music Anyway?

A Tant Réver du Roi, 2022

9/10

Listen to What Is Pop Music Anyway?

A French outfit who blur the lines of sonically charged noise and plenty of melodic moments, this is Dewaere’s sophomore album, and it sure does build off an exciting punk template with calm moments, giant swells of arena rock anthems, and a whole lot of memorable riffs.

“My Shangri-Laaa” opens the listen with thumping drums and dense guitars, as a noisy version of alt-rock unfolds with smooth singing, and “Clink And Cluster” follows with lively bass lines populating the darker, post-punk fueled climate that’s got plenty of melody, too.

In the middle, “Make It In The Morning (Shake It In The Night)” lends itself to the dance floor just as it does the pit with its tuneful grit, while “Satellite” brings rhythm and soul to a very versatile landscape.

Moving towards the end, “Replay” gets a bit dreamy before abruptly shifting into a thundering and bristling album highlight, and “Everybody Wants One Now” exits with a dynamic version of indie-rock that’s muscular but cautious.

Dewaere is comprised of Maxwell Farrington (vocals), Julien Henry (guitar), Marc Aumont (bass), and new drummer Frank Richard, and What Is Pop Music Anyway? seamlessly blends, punk, grunge, indie, and pop into a superb 11 tracks.

Travels well with: Kitch- New.Strife.Lands; Cosse- Nothing Belongs To Anything

Troy Roberts

Nu-Jive: Nations United

Toy Robot, 2022

9/10

Listen to Nu-Jive: Nations United

The two-time Grammy nominee Troy Roberts brings his inimitable saxophone playing to these 10 new tunes, where Nu-Jive, i.e. Tim Jago (guitar), Silvano Monasterios (keys), Eric England (bass) and David Chiverton (drums) accompany him.

“Funkafarian” gets the listen off to a groove filled start, where playful bass and warm brass are especially charming, and “Tribes & Tribulations” continues the gracefulness with spirited guitar lines and precise drumming complementing the breezy melodies.

“Big Night In” lands in the middle and will certainly get you on the dance floor with its swift and contagious energy, while “Sobrino” trims the pace back with a soulful and hazy album highlight that moves slowly amid much beauty.

Near to the end, “Hypnagogia” showcases the meticulous brass acrobatics of Roberts alongside firm drumming, and the 10+ minutes of “Dreamstation” exits the listen with a lively beat, guitar and sax solos, and a whole lot of dreaminess close to the finish.

A fusion outing of extraordinary skill, expect funk, jazz, R&B, soul and plenty of culture here, as Roberts and company make every moment of their 4th album together exciting and memorable.

Travels well with: Marcus Strickland Twi-Life- People Of The Sun; Troy Roberts & Tim Jago- Best Buddies

Radha Botofasina

Carry On: The Spirituals Vol. 2

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Carry On: The Spirituals Vol. 2

An artist with a very complicated upbringing, but who has formally studied jazz piano and vocal work and who has played music in more genres than just about anyone, the 9 tracks here by Radha Botofasina sit firmly in religious territory, and feature a large handful of background vocalists and musicians.

“Satan We Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down” starts the listen with soulful singing and harp from Botofasina alongside the playful percussion and bouncy bass lines as gospel ideas enter, and “I Know The Lord Laid His Hands On Me” follows with infectious hand clapping and a choir in the spiritual climate that benefits much from John Lehman’s piano.

Deeper yet, “My Soul Gonna Shine” showcases Botofasina’s powerful pipes amid a pair of tubas and Alma Cielo’s viola, while “Going Back/With Jesus” puts much emphasis on strings as the eloquent singing and emotive spirit makes this the album’s best.

Further still, “Move On Up A Little Higher” displays Caleb Buchanan’s precise acoustic bass and Oran Coltrane’s spoken word in the uplifting landscape, and the title track exits the listen with many background vocalists making for a cultured and lively finish.

A very rich affair, the call and response singing, animated hand claps, and worldly textures make for a fascinating listen, and it’s one that’s inspirational and quite exhilarating, too.

Travels well with: Ermelinda Cuellar- What A Difference A Day Made; Elena Maque- Feel Again

Ike

The Great Escape

Four Flies, 2022

8/10

Listen to The Great Escape

The brainchild of Isaac de Martin, as IKE the artist brings very mature genres into modern pop ideas that take help from plenty of talented players on this sophomore album.

“Eva” starts the listen with a very warm and fluid jazz approach that’s quite stylish and benefits much from agile percussion and Simona Turk’s tenor sax, and “It’s Ok” follows with Sera Kalo’s gorgeous and soulful pipes guiding the bits of psychedelia emanating from IKE’s guitar.

At the halfway point, “Interlude” brings a very dreamy climate of bare but impactful sounds, while “Ethics Of The Sun” pulsates with a modern electro-pop delivery that’s quite adventurous in a cinematic sort of way.

Closer to the end, Kalo’s pipes return on the guitar and synth fueled “Somewhere”, which is the record’s best, and “Kurbis” exits the listen with proficient drumming and plenty of rhythm that showcases Michele Uliana’s radiant clarinet.

A record that thematically discusses the escape from our present techno-scientific society, IKE and company make a heartfelt, eloquent and exploratory mix of instrumentals and vocal moments that embrace neo-soul, future jazz and downtempo ideas.

Travels well with: Almeeva- To All My Friends; Serena Ferrara & Simone Mor- Kemana

Kitch

New.Strife.Lands

A Tant Rever du Roi, 2022

10/10

Listen to New.Strife.Lands

An incredibly original and creative outfit composed of Adrien Maillet (key lead, key bass, machine), Thomas Loureiro (drums, machine), Leopold Riou (guitar, vocals, bass) and Dany Boutin (guitar, vocals, bass), as Kitch the quartet birth an experimental and noisy version of indie, punk, alternative and electronic rock.

“Etambot” opens the listen, and waste little time making an impression with its ambient droning and wordless vocals, and “Anytime” continues the mysteriousness, which builds into a swift and charged post-punk exploration that’s quite exciting.

Further on, “Stolen Cage” is quite bare, a bit soulful, before abruptly shifting into a cautious version of busy alt-rock, while “Trippy” spends 6 minutes mesmerizing us with its bass acrobatics, firm drumming and playful vocal acrobatics.

Moving towards the end, “Absent Again” thunders with a nearly metallic approach that’s dense and easily the album’s best, and “Etrave” exits the listen much like how it started- with much atmosphere, a sci-fi buzzing and a healthy dose of calculated noise.

An often bristling effort that can retreat to calm, Kitch don’t easily fit into any classification, which is part of their allure, and this intense and meticulous 3rd album is nothing short of stunning.

Travels well with: Cosse- Nothing Belongs To Anything; Princess Thailand- And We Shine

Margaret Brouwer

Reactions

Naxos, 2022

8/10

Listen to Reactions

The award winning composer Margaret Brouwer brings us 21st century chamber and vocal music here, where much attention to emotion and mood comprises the subject matter about the current state of affairs.

“Rhapsodic Sonata” opens the listen with 3 chapters, where Eliesha Nelson’s viola and Shuai Wang’s piano interact with both tension and grace, as both busy and bare moments emit much beauty in the mesmerizing climate.

“Declaration” lands in the middle, and recruits Sarah Beaty’s stunning mezzo-soprano for the soaring and poetic landscape that embraces Mari Sato’s sublime violin.

Further down the line, “The Lake” showcases incredible finger acrobatics from Wang’s keys amid Brian Skoog’s spellbinding tenor, and “All Lines Are Still Busy” includes narration from Mari Sato, who also provides the chilling violin prowess of the humorous finish.

A highly engaging contemporary chamber affair, Brouwer’s company make the most of the timeless melodies, comedic moments and more topical social issues that are fleshed out with strong attention to detail and much appreciated precision.

Travels well with: Frederic Hand- Across Time; Solomiya Ivakhiv- Poems & Rhapsodies

James Lee Baker

Impressions

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Impressions

An album entirely of cover songs from artists who have in some way shaped and formed James Lee Baker’s craft, Impressions is full of heartfelt, rugged and timeless interpretations you won’t soon forget.

“Young Man In America” (Anais Mitchell) starts the listen with cozy acoustic guitar and Baker’s inimitable vocals that guide the soothing and eloquent folk song, and David Gray’s “Living Room” follows with a brighter approach of warm strumming, as crisp drums and moody organ enters.

Halfway through, “Rolling Rock And Rock ‘n’ Roll”, by Steve LaSala and Gene Kowalski, brings a more upbeat climate that you could even dance to in a country shuffle sort of way, while “Morningside” Flows with much beauty amid the poetic singing and dreaminess of the John Gorka original.

Inching towards the end, Richard W. Todd’s “Deepening Of The Stillness” benefits much from agile strings and a bit of grit in Baker’s pipes that illuminates the vivid storytelling, and “Just Like A Woman” exits the listen with a graceful intimacy where well timed backing vocals complement the Bob Dylan tune.

Baker chooses the works of both world famous names as well as regional favorites, some of which are his friends. And though Baker’s work probably falls into the category of the latter (at this point, anyway), he certainly plays with the skill and memorableness of a household name on this finely executed listen.

Travels well with: Dana Cooper- I Can Face The Truth; Steve Dawson- at the bottom of a canyon in the branches of a tree

Lee Rogers

Gameblood

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Gameblood

The Belfast, Ireland singer-songwriter Lee Rogers returns with his heartfelt and tender version of song craft that takes help from Paddy Lavin (drums), Simon Francis (bass, programming), Colm McClean (pedal steel, guitars), Gareth Dunlop (guitars, piano, synth, percussion, backing vocals) and some very special guests on backing vocals.

“Everytime” gets the listen off to a dreamy start, where Rogers’ smooth and subtly gritty vocals guide the expressive folk-rock that balances power and melody in a song about his wife, and “Silent Song” continues with flowing intimacy that’s quite soulful in its thoughtfulness.

Further on, “The House” benefits much from a stirring, cinematic approach that’s even got a hint of psychedelia, while “Haunted” is a more firm and thicker presence of roots rock meets ominous Americana in a Tom Waits sort of way.

Nearing the end, “Won’t Find Me” emits much warmth and radiates sublime beauty, and “Barefoot In The Basement” exits the listen with help from Foy Vance and Nathan O’Regan on the vocally eloquent and musically vulnerable finish.

Rogers wasn’t in the best place emotionally when he began this record, which is certainly evident from the introspective nature of the songs, and like everything in his catalog of work, he displays wise storytelling with rawness and substance in his thinking person’s brand of folk rock.

Travels well with: Drunken Prayer- Cordelia Elsewhere; The Lied To’s- The Worst Kind Of New

Ekko The Strange

Mystique

InClub, 2022

8/10

Listen to Mystique

An artist who resides in Poland but is from Idaho, Ekko The Strange certainly lives up to his name with a very moody hybrid of post-punk, goth-rock and New Wave tendencies across these 8 very unusual yet alluring tunes.

“Exotic” leads the listen with primitive drumming and dark synth-wave nods, as the haunting vocals draw us in, and “Gleboki (Deep)” keeps the setting ominous but with a dance-floor ready appeal.

Halfway through, the cinematic and sprawling “Channel” is quite unpredictable in the best ways, while “Reanimate” recruits a firm buzzing to the chilling darkwave textures that sound right at home in the ‘80s.

Things get pretty noisy near the end with the album’s best track, the pulsating “Your Shadow”, and the strategically repetitive “Ekko Reflektor” doesn’t disappoint either with its bristling nature.

If you’re a fan of Peter Murphy, David Bowie, Ian Curtis or Lou Reed, you’ll find plenty to love about this sophomore album that was written, performed and produced by a very talented musician.

Travels well with: Ritual Howls- Their Body; The Psychedelic Furs- Made Of Rain

Kris Kelly

Runaways

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Runaways

A Brooklyn based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Kris Kelly penned Runaways after spending half a decade traveling South America with just his guitar and a few belongings. With the help of musicians from Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco’s band, Kelly delivers very creative tunes here where folk and chamber-pop are in attendance.

“Birthplace” starts the listen with acoustic guitars and pretty singing from Kelly on the folk inspired opening that brings in orchestral ideas, and “We Flew” continues the creativity in the indie-pop and chamber friendly tune.

In the middle, “Cracked Porcelain” is a busy, lush and layered gem, while “In This Valley” is a sparse but no less precise example of the varied instrumentation and elegance that Kelly possesses.

Deeper cuts offer us the moody “More”, where rhythm is key, and “Brother” is nearly 9 minutes of breezy melodies that make this one of the album’s best. “Sunstone” exits the listen much like started- organic, melodic and an overall sunnier delivery.

Not only did Kelly’s time in South America provide the inspiration for this fine album, he also met his now husband on the trip. As one might expect, Runaways is lyrically very much a personal affair with much self-discovery, while musically it’s adventurous and flowing with innovation.

Travels well with: Rufus Wainwright- Want One; Destroyer- Destroyer’s Rubies