En Garde
Warner, 2020
8/10
The Los Angeles songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Gruska returns with a sophomore album, where his colorful storytelling is met with sounds that traverse pop, folk, soul and many others on the adventures En Garde.
“Maybe I’ll Go Nowhere” starts the listen with careful acoustic guitar alongside Gruska’s distinct vocals in a rhythmic folk tune that recruits synth and strings, too, and “Event Horizon” follows with a very cautious delivery of light vocals across music that builds into a chamber setting.
Near the middle, “Dialing Drunk” is especially bare with a mature display of vocal acrobatics in a stylish soft-rock meets jazz fashion, while “Crash Cart” flows with a glorious and orchestral tinted display of indie-folk sensibilities. Gruska collaborates a few times on the record, most notably with Lianne La Havas on “Haiku4U”, where fluent keys and a dense beat soundtrack the very forthright wordplay that’s not far from R&B.
Towards the end, “Blood In Rain”, featuring Moses Sumney, matches warm piano with pretty vocal work in the dreamy atmosphere, and “Teenage Drug” ends the listen with one of the fuller tunes, where upbeat melodies and firm grooves find their way into one of the album’s best selections.
Formerly of the sibling duo The Belle Brigade, these days Gruska is busy producing artists like Bad Books, among others. Let’s hope he continues to find time for his solo work, as his intimate, playful and genre skipping song craft will certainly be embraced by many.
Travels well with: Darren Jessee- The Jane Room 217; Penny & Sparrow- Finch