Sell The Tape Machine
Hogar, 2021
9/10
Listen to Sell The Tape Machine
An El Paso, Texas resident who sings and plays guitar in EEP and is also a producer and engineer, Ross Ingram delivers an impressive debut solo album here, where some additional musicians help illuminate his alt-rock, shoegaze and eclectic form of indie-rock.
Ingram places the title track in the lead off position, where thoughtful atmosphere segues into a very dreamy climate as his soft vocals guide the twinkling haze that benefits from Nathan McGehee and KT Neely’s backing vocals, and “Come Sunlight” follows with playful percussion and synth manipulation that’s a bit spacey, highly creative and fits in quite well with today’s indietronica.
There’s 10 tracks here and each offers new surprises, including the folk influences of the adventurous and anthemic “Marionette”, while “Walled In” brings a charm that runs parallel to the first time you heard The Postal Service, as very pretty singing is present thanks to Ingram exploring his falsetto. “So Stay”, another exceptional track, the recruits flute from Kristyn Ingram, where a light and airy environment is both soothing and gorgeous.
Close to the end, “Bookshelves” is a poetic, bare display of soft synth buzzing amid Ingram’s expressive pipes, and “Ashes” finishes the listen swift with synthetic drumming, glowing synth, Sebastian Estrada’s proficient guitar work and versatile singing in an exit that could get you to dance or maybe just mull things over.
Ingram’s resume is quite exceptional, so it’s no surprise that this first record on his own is so remarkable. Perhaps at its core a bedroom pop effort, there just isn’t a second here that’s not mesmerizing.
Travels well with: Au.ra- Cultivations; Hermetic Delight- F.A. Cult