The Baylor Project

The Evening: Live At Apparatus

Be A Light, 2022

9/10

Listen to The Evening: Live At Apparatus

The multiple Grammy nomineed duo The Baylor Project bring us a live recording here, where Jean Baylor (vocals) and Marcus Baylor (drums) are joined by Terry Brewer (piano, keys), Yasushi Nakamura (bass), Keith Loftis (tenor, soprano sax), Mark Williams (trombone) and Darren Barrett (trumpet) for the soul stirring set.

“Our Love Is Here To Stay” starts the listen with plenty of crowd participation, as the songs flows with incredibly smooth singing amid the warm and upbeat piano from Brewer that eventually recruits thick drums and bright brass, and “Lord Keep Me Day By Day” follows with focus on the piano acrobatics, where hand clapping from the audience reels us in further.

In the middle, “Tell Me A Story” gets quite intimate and showcases the soulful sax of Loftis alongside Jean’s poetic singing, while “We Swing ‘The Cypher’” is indeed full of a dance friendly energy that benefits from Nakamura’s bouncy bass and the dynamic horns.

Close to the end, the powerful gospel of “Happy To Be With You” spotlights Jean’s stunning voice that abruptly shifts into a colorful mix of jazz and R&B flavor, and “Only Believe” exits the listen with a sublime beauty that emits gorgeous singing and is complemented by gentle, absorbing musicianship.

A flawless performance that brings a very Motown appeal into the timeless jazz landscape, the Baylor’s and their esteemed band make for a performance you can’t help but admire.

Travels well with: Steve Gadd Band- At Blue Note Tokyo; Arturo O’Farrill- Virtual Birdland

Ernesto Cervini

Joy

Three Pines, 2022

9/10

Listen to Joy

The Juno Award winning drummer and composer Ernesto Cervini pens an album that was inspired by Louise Penny’s Gamache book series, where the goodness, decency and courage of the characters is present in the colorful and soulful songs that welcome some of Canada’s best musicians.

“Three Pines” opens the listen with Amy Cervini, Felicity Williams and Emilie-Claire Barlow’s gorgeous, wordless vocals in the very dreamy, melodic climate, and “Surprised By Joy” follows with Cervini’s acrobatic drumming alongside Adrean Farrugia’s firm keys and bright brass that emits a very flowing jazz demeanor.

Further along, “Roar And Havoc” benefits much from Rich Brown’s agile electric bass and Luis Deniz’s rich alto sax, while “Bella Bella” is a more intimate affair that showcases Kelly Jefferson’s soulful tenor sax and Dan Fortin’s acoustic bass in the calm versus busy textures.

Inching towards the end, “Lacoste” features Artie Roth’s sublime acoustic bass to complement Cervini’s restrained drums and the poetic brass, and “I’m Fine” exits with William Carn’s well timed trombone and the eloquent keys helping make for a stirring and timeless finish.

The album actually features 3 of Cervini’s working bands, i.e. Turboprop, Tetrahedron and Tune Town, and the large amount of players helps each tune find a unique place to reside but that as a whole resonates grace, love and beauty.

Travels well with: Craig Davis- Tone Paintings; Billy Drummond- Valse Sinistre

Sarah Bernstein Veer Quartet

Veer Quartet

New Focus, 2022

8/10

Listen to Veer Quartet

The violinist and composer Sarah Bernstein brings chamber, jazz and improvisation to these 6 very unique pieces, where additional strings from Sana Nagano, Leonor Falcon and Nick Jozwiak are along for the imaginative affair.

“Frames No. 1” starts the listen, and it welcomes dancing strings that aren’t short of warmth and playfulness, as both solo and group dynamics are explored, and “New Cycle Progression” follows with harmonic flow and progressive improvisation in the very cautious demeanor.

“Clay Myth” and “World Warrior” reside in the middle, where the former is quite intimate, stirring even, in its emotive appeal, while the latter illustrates an unparalleled attention to detail amid the frisky string acrobatics. “Hidden” exits the listen, and it showcases strong solo playing but also embraces group harmony, too.

Bernstein has produced 10 albums and many collaborations, and her avant-garde vision and unorthodox approach to music is as exceptional as ever here.

Travels well with: Departure Duo- Immensity Of; NakedEye Ensemble- A Series Of Indecipherable Glyphs

Chris Castino

Brazil

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Brazil

The Twin Cities artist Chris Castino might best be known as the vocalist/guitarist/songwriter of The Big Wu, and this solo debut allows him to bring his many years of experience and unparalleled talent into a very diverse and personal body of work.

“Chinese Whispers” opens the listen with Nicholas David’s warm keys and Dylan Nau’s glowing pedal steel, as Castino’s smooth singing and warm guitar helps make for a cozy version of Americana, and “Fire & Stars” follows with agile drumming from JT Bates, where Jill Mikelson’s very pretty pipes help complement the dreamy song craft.

In the middle, the folk-influenced strumming of “Someway” benefits much from Jimmy Rogers’ playful bass and Doug Christianson’s fluid drumming in the album’s best, while the country spirited “Reckless” is a more musically bare but vocally strong moment that showcases Bettina Villamil’s fiddle.

Close to the end, “Beginner’s Mind” is a more lush offering that’s got melody and rhythm thanks to Gregg ‘Cheech’ Hall’s slide guitar and Chad Whittaker’s bass, and “Don’t Break My Heart” exits with Toby Marshall’s frisky keyboards and Castino’s thick guitar that tips its hat to his many years playing in rock bands.

A very well thought out and executed listen, there’s funk, blues, and soulful moments to be found across Brazil, and it sure does a great job of capturing the immense talent of this Minnesota legend.

Travels well with: Fireside Collective- Across The Divide; Kitchen Dwellers- Wise River

Sweet Megg

My Window Faces The South

Turtle Bay, 2022

9/10

Listen to My Window Faces The South

The eclectic artist Megg Farrell (Sweet Megg) switches direction with a Western Swing affair, where Sam Chess, Dennis Crouch, Dalton Ridenhour, Chris Scruggs, Billy Contreas, Mike Davis, Ricky Alexander and Chris Gelb are in attendance for the 11 tracks by Fats Waller and Hoagy Carmichael, among others.

“Faded Love” starts the listen with soulful brass, as light drumming and warm bass complement Megg’s inimitably stirring vocals, and “Hesitation Blues” follows with upbeat strings and a bouncy energy that you could and should certainly dance to.

The title track lands in the middle, and it carries a timeless country flavor with its fiddle prowess from Contreas, not to mention Ridenhour’s finger acrobatics on piano, while “Stardust” emits an intimate quality that showcases aching pedal steel from Scruggs in the album’s best.

Moving closer to the end, “Tennessee Waltz” is a bare but impactful track that uses Megg’s expressive voice amid gentle piano, and “Trouble In Mind” exits with absorbing fiddle alongside Gelb’s gentle drums and Crouch’s plucked bass for the breezy and retro spirit that we could never tire of.

A listen that bridges Megg’s life in Brooklyn and its jazz sensibilities with the country and rock of her time in Nashville, there are few artists as diverse or exciting as this vocalist, which is again exemplified by this superb record.

Travels well with: Brennen Leigh- Prairie Love Letter; Melissa Carper- Daddy’s Country Gold

Altered Labyrinth

I’m A Spider

Cream Cloud, 2022

9/10

Listen to I’m A Spider

I was already a fan of the iconoclastic duo Altered Labyrinth, so it was quite exciting to see this one arrive from the California and Chile artists Matt Dickey (guitar, vocals, bass, synth) and Matt Garfein (drums).

“Tell Me Why Your Head Is Fake” gets the listen off to an off kilter start, where thick bouts of alt-rock enter amid the tuneful, blurry version of dream-pop, and “Let Her In The Walls” follows with a calmer but no less creative climate of post-punk that shimmers with a jagged meets hazy demeanor.

In the middle, the dense, pounding “There Was An Evil Person Here” injects bits of intimacy alongside the bright guitar tone that even gets anthemic, while “When The Jacket Shines” actually get a bit pretty, where complicated guitar and pounding drums give it plenty of ruggedness, too.

Close to the end, the ominous fuzz of “Call The Cops” segues into a mesmerizing, nearly shoegaze sort of swirl, and “I’m Climbing Up And Down The Roof” exits with a surreal droning that’s darkly absorbing.

Even though they are certainly carving out their own path, you might be reminded of legends like My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division or even Melvins, and I feel quite comfortable saying that Altered Labyrinth are making some of the most distinct and enjoyable post-punk that exists today.

Travels well with: Strange Horizon- Beyond The Strange Horizon; Haunted Summer- Whole

Kirsten Lambert

From A Window To A Screen

BellaJu, 2022

8/10

Listen to From A Window To A Screen

The jazz vocalist Kirsten Lambert brings along John Brown, Jim Crew, Will Campbell, Dan Davis, Bill Frisell and Scott Sawyer plus many guests for these mostly acoustic-jazz songs that are as memorable as they are confident.

“What Is This Music That I Hear” starts the listen with Lambert’s gorgeous voice guiding the warm piano from Crew and light guitar in a very emotive climate, and “On An Evening Such As This” follows with Davis’ gentle drumming amid the poetic singing that welcomes Campbell’s soulful sax.

In the middle, the elegant “Insomnia” emits a dreamy demeanor that resonates so much calm beauty, while “Song For Johnny Cash” enters thicker areas of lush, timeless jazz that benefits from Brown’s well timed acoustic bass.

Close to the end, “There’s A Love” is a romantic album highlight that meshes the brass, drums, keys and guitars with a flowing intimacy, and “And I Love Him” retains that coziness that enters a stirring appeal of agile and vulnerable song craft.

Amazingly, this is Lambert’s debut, but she brings much experience from behind the scenes, and it sure does make for a heartfelt and captivating listen that employs the subtle but effective use of strings, clarinet and pedal steel, too.

Travels well with: Ana Nelson- Bridges; John Lee- The Artist

Brûlez les meubles

L’Appel du Vide

Circum-Disc, 2022

8/10

Listen to L’Appel du Vide

A duo comprised of Louis Beaudoin-de la Sablonnière and Éric Normand, who are well known improvisers in Quebec, as Brûlez les meubles they welcome Tom Jacques on drums for a very exciting jazz fueled listen.

“Amis Finalement” opens the listen with warm, shimmering electric guitar alongside the frisky drumming and well timed bass in the playful climate, and “L'ampleur des dégats” follows with a bit of mystery, where the quick drumming and dreamy guitar tone emits a cinematic quality.

Halfway through, “16mm” is a bit cautious, but certainly unpredictable in its stylish energy, while “L’essence” is a more intimate peek into the trio’s dynamic ability to interact with creative gestures.

Moving towards the end, the atmospheric, even haunting quality of “Diapositive” makes this the album’s best, and “La suite des choses” exits with all 3 players delivering an artistic and avant-garde experience.

A listen that is abstract yet comforting, minimal yet intricate and very much indebted to jazz guitar ideas of the past, this is actually just 1 of 2 records they released in 2022, and it sure is a unique and accomplished effort.

Travels well with: TOC- Did It Again; Adoct- Ouvre-Glace

The Jacktown Ramblers

Live In Asheville

Little Ruby, 2022

8/10

Listen to Live In Asheville

A North Carolina quartet with a penchant for bluegrass, swing and gypsy jazz sounds, this live disc brings 5-string banjo (Brett Setzer), flat-top guitar (Shannon Leasure), mandolin (Gabriel Wiseman) and string bass (Mike Ramsey) to a very lively and really fun listen.

“You Ain’t Going Nowhere” starts the music with much warm string interaction, as radiant vocal harmonies fuel the timeless bluegrass sounds, and “Putting In Real Light” follows with flowing melodies, where chunky banjo and vivid storytelling are much appreciated.

Further into the set, “Welcome To New York” is an instrumental affair, where the swift plucking and strong attention melody won’t go unnoticed, as is the extremely dynamic and rich “The Jacktown Shakedown”, which might be the best tune present.

Approaching the end, “Sweet Sue, Just You” is indeed a sweet tune that’s quite charming, emotive and playful, while “Tickle The Tom Cat’s Tail” brings the strengths of all the players into a very memorable bluegrass, jazz, swing hybrid.

Recorded live around one microphone at the Isis Music Hall in Asheville NC on January 22nd, 2022, this is an experience free from overdubs, redos, or studio magic, and instead focuses on organic, sincere music that makes you want to see them live yourself.

Travels well with: Fireside Collective- Across The Divide; Lonesome River Band- Heyday

Chris Berardo

American Dust

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to American Dust

The New York native and Connecticut resident Chris Berardo released American Dust in 1997, and here it sees the reissue treatment that lets us explore where it all began for this veteran roots rock artist.

The title track starts the listen with warm acoustic guitar, before pounding drums and Berardo’s smooth pipes enter the energetic Americana rocker, and “Old Man’s Eyes” follows with a much calmer pace, where lyrical matter about parental wisdom unfolds with a very intimate, stirring quality.

“Is There Anybody Out There” occupies the middle spot, and it comes with a scrappy and gritty version of roots rock, while “Hard Times For The Lonely” uses spirited guitar and a soulfulness that’s heartfelt and poetic.

“Still Your Friend” and “One Chance” exit the listen, where the former is a live track recorded at 3 am in Larchmont, NY’s Cellar Bar and is an acoustic duo with his brother, Marc, and the latter is a very pretty, folk-influenced finish that showcases the depth of Berardo’s many talents.

Somehow, Berardo avoided worldwide fame, even though the bands he was in during the ‘80s were certainly close to it. This is a great, sincere and timeless record, and we’re all better off for it being easily available again.

Travels well with: Duwayne Burnside- Acoustic Burnside; Bren Holmes- Everything You Never Wanted

Purbayan Chatterjee and Rakesh Chaurasia

Saath Saath

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Saath Saath

The Indian sitar player and composer Purbayan Chatterjee and flautist and longtime friend Rakesh Chaurasia come together for these 7 ragas for morning and night, and they’ve got some help along the way, too.

“Lalit” starts the listen with a soothing, meditative quality that resonates with much warmth in its precise string manipulation, and “Shuddh Sarang” follows with a dreamy quality that benefits much from careful interaction between the pair.

In the middle, “Yaman Madhya Laya” features Satyajit Talwalker and Ojas Adhiya on tabla for the highly cultured and mesmerizing album highlight, while “Yaman Drut” again uses the tablas for a very upbeat and rhythmic display of worldly song craft.

“Bhairvi” exits the listen, and it’s full of cautious yet adventurous song craft that utilizes a dynamic energy between the tablas, sitar and flute with an unparalleled attention to detail.

Additionally, Taufiq Qureshi takes up percussion, and the entire affair was recorded in just one or two takes, giving it a very spontaneous feel that results in a very unique take on world, classical and Indian music that, even at 2 discs in length, never out welcomes its stay.

Travels well with: Divahn- Shalhevet; Porangui- Live

Brighter Light Brigade

Traveling Together

8 Pound Gorilla, 2022

8/10

Listen to Traveling Together

The singer-songwriters Amyliza de Jesus and Marla Vannucci, the core of Brighter Light Brigade, align themselves with the multi-instrumentalist Dean Jones for these 7 songs that expand off their debut, Feel It All.

“My Favorite Song” starts the listen with Jones’ soothing organ and Vannucci’s soulful pipes in the very harmonic delivery that comes with island-esque breeziness, and “Rufus The Rooster” follows with vivid storytelling and Aaron Till’s precise fiddle in the cautious, eloquent climate.

In the middle, “Different” finds itself in ballad territory with soothing acoustic guitar and gorgeous singing in the folk landscape, while “My Whole Heart” enters area of ska/Caribbean sounds that are fleshed out with a heartfelt appeal. “Goodbye Summer”, the final song, then gets punchy, pop-friendly and emits so much coziness and warmth.

Brighter Light Brigade began in 2020 as a music collective founded by de Jesus, and it includes a rotating cast of artists who seek to connect, heal and inspire, and all these songs certainly do that, and more, and make for an ideal family record.

Travels well with: Brighter Light Brigade- Feel It All; Jenn Cleary- Happy Day

Connie Han

Secrets Of Inanna

Mack Avenue, 2022

8/10

Listen to Secrets Of Inanna

The pianist/composer Connie Han sure is in fine company here, where Bill Wysaske, John Patitucci, Katisse Buckingham and Rich Perry help her flesh out a listen that bridges ‘70s spiritual jazz and modern ideas into a listen that’s never short on melodies, grooves and exploration.

“Prima Materia” opens the listen with sparking keys, where Wysaske’s agile drums and Buckingham’s dreamy piccolo make for a very warm climate, and “Ershkigal Of The Underworld” follows with tumbling piano and Patitucci’s fascinating bass lines that cultivate a very energetic and flowing jazz delivery.

Halfway through, the acrobatic fingers of Han on Fender Rhodes certainly make an impression on the adventurous highlight, while “Wind Rose Goddess” welcomes tenor sax to the frisky yet very meticulous dynamics.

“Desert Air” and “Enki’s Gift” exit the listen, where the former focuses on bass and piano with much precision, and the latter enlists Buckingham on flute and Han on Fender Rhodes for the rich and textured finish.

Han is quickly making a name for herself in the area of contemporary jazz, and these 12 songs further solidify her vision as being necessary to familiarize yourself with if you’re a fan of jazz from any era.

Travels well with: Jeremy Green- Standing Eight; The Jazz Professors- Blues And Cubes

Brighter Light Brigade

Feel It All

8 Pound Gorilla, 2022

8/10

Listen to Feel It All

The Nashville based collective Brighter Light Brigade, i.e. Amyliza de Jesus and Marla Vannucci, make for a very enjoyable family focused debut EP here, where the producer Dean Jones and Mista Cookie Jar lend their talents, too.

“See You In The Summertime” opens the listen with flowing vocal harmonies, where folk-pop melodies unfold with much breeziness, and “A Friend Like You” follows with crisp drumming and bouncy bass lines amid the pretty singing.

Halfway through, the soulful brass and ragtime feel of “I Lost It” brings us back 100 years or so with its stylish demeanor that seems like it should be playing at a speakeasy, while “Pancakes On Sunday Morning” recruits some R&B amid the playful grooves. “Feel It All”, the EPs best, then exits with a charming, rootsy appeal that is quite memorable and energetic.

De Jesus and Vannucci both practice as licensed mental health professionals, and the songs certainly come with a therapeutic feel, where wise lyrics and calming musicianship help birth a very impressive first record.

Travels well with: Kelli Welli- Robots Don’t Tell Jokes; Wendy And DB- Into The Little Blue House

Departure Duo

Immensity Of

New Focus, 2022

9/10

Listen to Immensity Of

Nina Guo (soprano) and Edward Kass (bass), i.e. Departure Duo, interpret the work of Katherine Balch, John Aylward, Emily Praetorius and Gyorgy Kurtág for these very meticulous and unique pieces that highlight their inestimable chemistry.

Balch’s “Phrases” starts the listen, and presents text by Arthur Rimbaud, as Guo’s pipes are quite vivid, sometimes fragmented, where the harmonic bass work complements the colorful nature of the composition superbly.

In the middle, “Tiergarten”, by Aylward, births a stirring focus, where 3 poems by Rilke are fleshed out with both intimacy and power, while Kurtág’s “Einige Sätze aus den Sudelbüchern Georg Christoph Lichtenbergs” injects talking amid the soaring soprano and well timed bass.

The title track exits the listen, and it presents a very absorbing minimalism that embraces whistling, clucking mouth sounds and bare pizzicatos in a highly deliberate, sparsely atypical finish.

A fascinating listen that’s full of calm gestures, just as it is wise ambiguity and personal artistry, there just isn’t a second here that’s not worth exploring again and again.

Travels well with: NakedEye Ensemble- A Series Of Indecipherable Glyphs; Peter Gilbert- Burned Into The Orange

James Houlahan

Beyond The Borders

Self-Released, 2022

9/10

Listen to Beyond The Borders

The Los Angeles musician James Houlahan returns with a 6th studio album of his alt-folk formula, where Fernando Perdomo, Danny Frankel and Scarlet Rivera, among others, are on hand for a more light and groove filled affair than his previous work.

“Far From Me” starts the listen with Houlahan’s warm voice and gentle acoustic guitar in the eloquent folk climate, and “Back To The Start” follows with a punchy and crisp version of country rock, where Joel Martin’s pedal steel is quite inviting in what might be one of the best songs in recent history.

Entering the middle, the dreamy, intimate “Wave On Wave” emits plenty of hushed beauty, while “Through The Water” brings both ruggedness and elegance to a rootsy flavored tune that really showcases Frankel’s strong drumming.

Deeper on the back half, “And The Horses Began To Dance” is heavy on atmosphere with spoken word that benefits from soulful backing vocals, and “You Are Free” exits with an upbeat appeal that’s rhythmic, flowing and truly illustrates Houlahan’s intricate guitar playing.

During the pandemic, Houlahan nearly walked away from playing music. Thankfully, he found inspiration and the songs starting rushing in, and with that came this richly textured, lyrically substantial and musically diverse peek into the mind of a highly creative and underrated songwriter.

Travels well with: Veronica Stanton- Caught Up On A Feeling; Derek Hoke- Electric Mountain

Dirty Streets

Who’s Gonna Love You

Blue Elan, 2022

8/10

Listen to Who’s Gonna Love You

The 7th album from the Memphis rockers Dirty Streets, their exciting brand of Motown friendly, bluesy, dirty southern rock sounds better than ever across these 11 well thought out tracks.

“Alright” starts the listen with a bluesy spirit, where crisp drums and rugged guitars align with the playful singing, and the title track follows with plenty of grit and melody, as soulful backing vocals enter the warm climate.

In the middle, the intimate demeanor of “Not That Man” finds itself in southern balladry with much power, while “Get Out” is a thick and lively rocker that showcases plenty of classic rock nods.

Approaching the end, “Bitter End”, the best song, offers plenty of dense roots rock that’s part Americana and part blues, and “Sunday” exits with a retro appeal that’s got grooves to spare.

Although they’re just the trio of Justin Toland (guitar, vocals), Andrew Denham (drums), and Thomas Storz (bass), Dirty Streets are loud, full and unpredictable as they embrace all the traditions of Southern rock that will always be enjoyable.

Travels well with: Cory Branan- The No-Hit Wonder; Gina Sicilia- Unchange

Electric Lecture

Electric Lecture

Self-Released, 2022

8/10

Listen to Electric Lecture

A Los Angels outfit spearheaded by Greg Ansin (bass, guitars, and vocals) and Bronson Taalbi (lead vocals, guitars, drums and percussion), as Electric Lecture they birth a very energetic and ‘90s fueled rock affair on this powerful and upbeat debut.

“Losing My Mind” starts the listen with smooth dual gender vocal harmonies, as sunny indie-rock flows with a spirited guitar solo, and it isn’t long until “All I Need” emits a reflective tone with a bit of jangly folk-rock appeal.

In the middle, the warm and melodic “Reverse Evolution” might remind you of The Flaming Lips in all the best ways, while “Street Caviar”, the best track, brings soulful and cultured ideas into the dreamy yet frisky tone that even welcomes brass.

Close to the end, the intimate demeanor of “Back In The Fight” ends up in lush territory with its soaring backing vocals, and the title track exits the listen with a speedy and retro charm that may bring to mind a Brian Wilson project.

The pair take help from Anthony J. Resta (guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals), and Jeffrey Gray (guitar solo), and it makes for a varied rock’n’roll experience that goes great with They Might Be Giants, Fountains Of Wayne or Ween.

Travels well with: Mackin Carroll- Learning How To Swim; Teddy Gross- Soon Come

Nakedeye Ensemble

A Series Of Indecipherable Glyphs

New Focus, 2022

9/10

Listen to A Series Of Indecipherable Glyphs

The Pennsylvania outfit NakedEye Ensemble bring us a collection of chamber works that are very much rooted in rock’n’roll ideas, where searing guitars and wild percussion often populate the dynamic pieces.

The first 10 tracks belong to Nick Didkovsky’s “Amalia’s Secret”, as the dreamy clarinet, acrobatic drumming and spirited electric guitar make for an avant-garde version of rock that’s fascinating, and “Sinister Footwear II”, by Frank Zappa, follows with soulful sax, airy flute and firm keys complementing the dense bass and electric guitar in often groove friendly and rhythmic ways.

In the middle, Rusty Banks’ “Dum Spectas Fugio” is quite hypnotic and abstract in a mechanical sort of fashion, while “Less Is More” uses mesmerizing keys and subtle percussion for the intimate Molly Joyce composition that does build into an emotive landscape.

Richard Belcastro’s “Nepetalactone” exits the listen, and it’s a cautious mix of winds, brass and strings that abruptly bursts into a sonically charged rock’n’roll adventure before retreating to calm again. Interestingly enough, this final track is a musical portrait of the effects of catnip on felines.

Call them avant-rock, new classical, experimental electro-acoustic or a combination of all 3, there are few outfits out there as daring or accomplished as NakedEye Ensemble, and this exceptional body of work further solidifies them as the best of the best in area of chamber music.

Travels well with: Peter Gilbert- Burned Into The Orange; Douglas Boyce- The Hunt By Night

Susan Gibson

The Hard Stuff

For The Records, 2019

9/10

Listen to The Hard Stuff

On Susan Gibson’s 7th solo outing and first LP since 2011, the veteran and award winning songstress penned the tunes while dealing with the grief of losing both parents in a short period.

A lyrically heavy listen, Gibson wastes no time drawing us into her authentic Americana formula on the raw yet pretty “Imaginary Lines”, and “Antiques” follows with jangly acoustic strumming on the bouncy, folk-influenced gem.

Elsewhere, the thumping “Lookin’ For A Fight” brings us some rugged country inspired rock, while “The Big Game” trims the volume back to reflective yet playful soft rock as Gibson’s elegant, raspy vocals shine.

Deeper into the listen “Hurricane”, one of the album’s best, recruits breezy melodies, background vocals and keys on the memorable introspection, and “8 x 10” ends the listen with rural banjo picking and strings on the extremely heartfelt exit.

While most of us aren’t familiar with Gibson’s name, her work has already reached mainstream success, as she wrote “Wide Open Spaces”, a massive hit for The Dixie Chicks in the late ‘90s. The Hard Stuff, however, is a more substantial peek into the rich, textured and poetic prowess of Gibson, and truly reveals her boundless, stirring art.

Travels well with: Lucinda Williams- Sweet Old World; Gretchen Peters- Dancing With The Beast