Obsolete Path
Big Stir, 2025
10/10
The North Carolina resident Chris Church knows his way around a melody you won’t soon forget, and here we’re treated to 12 songs that explore his vast skills in many genres.
The warm acoustic guitar of the title track starts with Church’s expressive voice in the singer-songwriter climate, and “Sit Down” follows with ‘80s pop brightness that makes great use of Brian Beaver’s skilled drumming and Lindsay Murray’s soaring backing vocals.
Further along, “Life On A Trampoline” carries a charming jangle via the timeless alt-rock nods, while “Tell Me What You Really Are” emits a melodic and driving rock template that’s thoughtful and touching.
Bill Lloyd’s harmonic mandolin enters on the dense and flowing “Vice Versa”, and close to the end the setting turns into a thick formula of grungy rock that’s both firm and tuneful thanks to “Like A Sucker”.
Church’s vision never stays in one place long. From radio friendly ideas to folk, prog, hard rock and even country, just about everything is covered here and it’s all delivered with attentive lyrics and precise instrumentation that lingers long after the songs end.
Travels well with: The Bablers- Like The First Time; Librarians With Hickeys- How To Make Friends By Telephone