Lover
Cooking Vinyl, 2019
8/10
A Seattle artist who has been quite prolific since 2008, Noah Gundersen has established himself as a rising name in the area of indie-folk sounds, and Lover finds the troubadour offering his most personal record yet.
“Robin Williams”, a song about mental health, starts the listen with much attention to mood in the emotive and intimate opener, and “Crystal Creek” follows with a beat driven, atmospheric display of soulful beauty.
In the middle, “Lose You” has keys guiding us through the cautious landscape where Gundersen’s vocals soar over beats, while “Out Of Time” recruits pop influences amid falsetto vocals and psyche-rock stabs.
Near the end, “Wild Horses” uses a strategic acoustic guitar for the bare beauty of the poetic singer-songwriter gem, and “So What” complements the setting with hushed yet adventurous sounds. “Kamikaze” ends the listen vocally strong and musically sparse with a dreamy, reflective exit.
Gundersen took 2 years to make this record, and it’s very apparent in the meticulous nature of each track. Although the subject matter is often very weighty, it’s never esoteric, and delivered with a cathartic quality that you can’t help but admire.
Travels well with: Penny And Sparrow- Finch; Ben Howard- Noonday Dream