Shadow Land
Flour Sack Cape, 2020
9/10
While there’s certainly no shortage of singer-songwriters from Nashville these days, few are as skilled and memorable as Ben de la Cour. On this 4th album, the troubadour delivers an intimate, forthright and often dark peek into his creative mind, where mandolin, accordion, clarinet and saxophones are in attendance.
The swift acoustic strumming and western influences of “God’s Only Son” opens up the listen as de la Cour’s gritty vocals flow alongside the haunting atmosphere that also brings in strings, and “High Heels Down The Holler” follows with a calmer spirit as vivid storytelling illuminates the warm Americana and bluesy nods.
In the middle, the bright percussion and harmonicas of “Shadow Land” blend in well with the dreamy melodies, while the electric guitars and rowdy keys of “Basin Lounge” sounds like it could incite a bar room brawl. “From Now On” then recruits a cello in the ballad setting that moves with sublime beauty.
At the end, “Harmless Indian Medicine Blues” certainly offers blues amid a thicker display of brass filled rock, and “Valley Of The Moon” exits the listen with a poetic, playful execution that highlights the top notch storytelling.
De la Cour tackles some very sensitive issues here, including mental illness and suicide, and the music is equally thoughtful. Despite residing where countless records are made, de la Cour actually ventured to Canada to record this album, and it’s definitely going to be one of the best this year.
Travels well with: Eric Brace & Last Train Home- Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows; Rod Picott- Tell The Truth & Shame The Devil