Kramies
VanGerrett/Hidden Shoal, 2022
8/10
The singer-songwriter Kramies (Kraim-iss) pens an autobiographical listen, where he takes contributions from some very well known musicians, who help him illuminate songs about death, addiction, and heartfelt nostalgia.
“Days Of” opens the listen with sounds from Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) and Jason Lytle (Grandaddy) for the slow burning elegance that’s a bit darker in scope, and “Horses To Maine” follows with some atmospheric twinkling that showcases a poetic and cinematic folk demeanor.
“Ohio I’ll Be Fine” occupies the middle spot and is soaked in soft and minimal folk sounds, while “You’d Be The Fall” is particularly dreamy, and unfolds with a very harmonic tone of lush beauty.
Close to the end, “Owl And The Crow” builds into a cathartic folk-rocker that soars high, and “4:44am” exits with a bare singer-songwriter appeal that’s shrouded in mystery and so much warmth.
Somewhere between dream-pop and indie-folk, the listen also features Tyler Ramsey (Band Of Horses), Jerry Becker (Train), and Jim Bogis (Counting Crows), and they help make for a journey that’s steeped in self-reflection and growth.
Travels well with: Derek Hoke- Electric Mountain; M. Lockwood Porter- Communion In The Ashes