Anticipation
American Dreams, 2021
10/10
A collaboration that began in 2018 when Cameron Knowler and Eli Winter found themselves in Southern Texas, playing solo and duo sets, this first album together brings Winter’s midwest roots and Knowler’s southern heritage into a compelling and extremely absorbing display of guitar acrobatics.
“Strawberry Milk” starts the listen with lovely guitar picking, as an incredibly warm setting unfolds with intricate grace, and “And So I Did” follows with fascinating string manipulation as Knowler’s bluegrass roots shine amid the glowing atmosphere.
In the middle, “Sippin’ Amaretto” touches on jazz influences alongside the duo’s flawless, improvised chemistry, while “Parapraxis Of A Dragonfly” resonates with a folk quality that’s both timeless and stirring, effectively telling a reflective story with no actual words but endless harmonies.
Approaching the end, we are treated to “A White Rose For Mark”, where a dreaminess is present amid a tribute to the late Mark Fosson, whose finger picking style is certainly embraced here, and “Southern Filibusters” exits on a live track, where the pair prove their organic, artistic formula is just as vibrant on stage, as they interpret the Tut Taylor song with much adventurousness.
Although Anticipation truly defies comparison, if names like Jack Rose, William Tyler, and Daniel Bachman mean anything to you, there’s a good chance Knowler and Winter’s advanced guitar songwriting will resonate well and endlessly.
Travels well with: Eli Winter- Unbecoming; Damien Jurado- In The Shape Of A Storm