Out Here Now
Parish, 2022
8/10
A New Orleans outfit spearheaded by the vocalist and guitarist Kelcy Wilburn, Ever More Nest covers both busy and sparse textures here, where the debut touches on country, folk, rock and Americana in very genuine, thought provoking ways.
“Out Loud” starts the listen with Wilburn’s soulful, expressive singing alongside Lucy Cordts’ whistling and Neilson Hubbard’s warm drumming, and “Coming Along” follows with a louder approach that’s got some alt-country spirit thanks to the powerful singing and Will Kimbrough’s fluid guitar playing.
“Wishing Well” arrives in the middle, and is fueled by agile acoustic guitar and Wilburn’s poetic voice in the intimate landscape, while “What’s Gone Is Gone” is a bit thicker and displays flowing banjo from Kimbrough amid Hubbard’s thumping drums and Fats Kaplin’s stirring strings.
The pace is trimmed significantly for the bare and eloquent “This Cloud”, where Kaplin’s moody pedal steel is used strategically, and “All I Want” exits the listen with Dean Marold’s skilled bass alongside a dreamy haze of beauty.
A very personal and spiritual affair, Wilburn, who used to release music as Kelcy Mae, illustrates that this moniker certainly houses her lush rockers and vulnerable moments of forthrightness with much care.
Travels well with: Laura Benitez And The Heartache- With All Its Thorns; Stacy Antonel- Always The Outsider