Folktown
Earthsonix, 2023
8/10
The acoustic guitar player Mark Leggett brings his fingerstyle playing and melodic gestures to these instrumental songs that revolve around Folk/Americana.
The open tuning and melodic gestures of the title track begins the listen, where the swift, rural flavor is appreciated, and “Simple Conversation” follows with a charming melody, where the guitars dance around each other warrmly.
Approaching the middle, “Blues For Fahey” is a more intimate moment of bluesy ideas with a pensive quality, while “Isolation Spring” welcomes Gabe Witcher’s moody fiddle to the hoedown friendly and bluegrass tinted album highlight.
Residing near the end, the balladry of “We Friends” uses Cooper Appelt’s skilled bass via the slow fingerpicking and introspective theme, and “Maybe I Might” exits the listen with more ballad sounds as a calm melody rises and falls amid the reflection.
Leggett’s resume includes a pair of Emmy nominations and work on Netflix and NBC that includes 100+ film and TV projects. The songs here are easy to enjoy, meticulous and full of sincerity and sophistication that will always be admirable.
Travels well with: Matthew Morgan- Timepiece; Tret Fure- Lavender Moonshine