The Heart Of
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
A Nashville artist who is now 8 albums deep, Zach Berkman tells universally relatable stories of love, loss, growth and change, and he’s surrounded by an all-star cast for these 12 songs that came to life after a long term relationship ended.
The warm mood of “Sleep Tight” begins the listen with soft keys that complement Berkman’s soft voice and the elegant acoustic guitar, and “My Old Friend” follows with folk friendly guitars, poetic singing and Justin Glasco’s agile drumming amid the cozy backing vocals.
In the middle, the fuller “On The Vine” benefits much from Glasco’s bright xylophone amid Rachel Ries’ eloquent voice, while the dreamy “Get Found” swirls with a moving intimacy that’s as heartfelt as it is touching.
Residing near the end, “Empire” welcomes Jeff Malinowski’s skilled bass and Berkman’s forthright wordplay to the album’s best, and the bare “Settle” exits with a calm folk tune that’s got plenty of soul.
A much more collaborative effort for Berkman that arrived after a period of stagnation, The Heart Of takes contributions from Ron Pope (piano, banjo, electric guitar, vocals), too, and it certainly adds to the soothing and careful song craft.
Travels well with: Mark Leggett- Folktown; Tret Fure- Lavender Moonshine