In The Driftless
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
It’s been 6 years since the Minneapolis folk outfit Fathom Lane have released an album, but they make up for that time with these diverse songs that surround themes of loss, isolation, addiction, discovery, and, eventually, redemption.
“How It Begins” opens the listen with warm acoustic strumming and expressive singing from the front man Michael Ferrier, which takes help from Shane Akers’ well timed pedal steel and Ashleigh Still’s mature piano, and “Surviving” follows with Matt Patrick’s baritone guitar, Hohner Planet and Mellotron adding much dreaminess to the textures.
Halfway through, “The Lookout” welcomes Pete Boblett’s agile bass guitar and Alexander Young’s skilled drumming to the subtle melodies, while “Eye Oh Way”, the album’s best, displays Ferrier’s pretty voice amid the soft layers of eloquent song craft.
Approaching the end, “The Stranger In Me” relies much on atmosphere that spotlights The Laurels String Quartet for the orchestral nods which complement the hazy folk ideas, and “You & Me” exits with meticulous acoustic guitar and soulful backing vocals for the cozy Americana moments of the creative Tom Petty interpretation.
A very cinematic body of work that draws the listener in with the well thought out instrumentation and vivid lyricism, along with his esteemed company it makes for a very atypical listen that warrants multiple visits.
Travels well with: Humbletown- The Path I Chose To Walk; Turn Turn Turn- New Rays From An Old Sun