Too Much Joy

All These Fucking Feelings

Propeller, 2022

10/10

Listen to All These Fucking Feelings

Fresh off an excellent come back album, the long running rockers Too Much Joy bring us another 13 new tracks, where confusion, anxiety and rage are all present across the eclectic listen.

“We Yell At 8” opens the listen with breezy acoustic guitar, where both grit and melody meet at a place of jangly rock, and “What Pricks We Were” follows with a busy and thick burst of buzzing alt-rock that’s raw yet tuneful in a ‘90s sort of way.

Elsewhere, the thumping “Minister Of Loneliness” welcomes some pop moments amid the post-punk energy, while the thick and lively “Normal Never Was” sort of reminds us of the Ramones with a gym membership with its head bobbin’, toe tappin’ punk rock ways.

Close to the end, “Mercy Mild” makes great use of playful bass lines alongside the crisp drums and a charming dreaminess with grit, and “Slightly Beautiful” exits with a bright demeanor that’s full of power-pop and harmonic textures.

If you’re a fan of Gang of Four, The Kinks, The Who or The Mekons, you’re really going to enjoy this record. Hell, even if you don’t care for any of the aforementioned bands, you’re still going to appreciate the diverse rock that carries traces of the ‘60s on, and will likely always be relevant.

Travels well with: Matthew Sweet- Catspaw; Richard X. Heyman- 67,000 Miles An Album

Eric Whitacre

Home

Decca, 2023

9/10

Listen to Home

The Grammy winning composer Eric Whitacre brings along the inimitable vocal group, VOCES8, for their a cappella presence that benefits from occasional instrumentation, too.

“Go Lovely Rose” opens the listen with the 8 voices harmonizing with incredible warmth and grace in the stirring 4.5 minutes, and “The Seal Lullaby” follows with subtle but effective piano playing that guides the poetic and expressive singing of the new recording of a Whitacre favorite.

Halfway through, “Sing Gently”, which was composed during lockdown and is made up of over 17,500 singers from 124 different countries, soars with a very fluid and engaging appeal, while “All Seems Beautiful To Me” emits a radiant intimacy that has each of the 8 vocals taking the spotlight at some point.

The longest piece, “The Sacred Evil”, is spread out over 12 movements, and showcases Emma Denton’s cello and Christopher Glynn’s piano for the text by Charles Anthony Silvestri, which discusses the death of the poet’s young wife, Julie, from ovarian cancer and pays close attention to emotion and tone.

A heartbreaking and particularly absorbing listen, there’s much in the way of harmony and choral dynamics that no one could parallel, as both Whitacre and VOCES8 execute their craft flawlessly.

Travels well with: Jessye Norman- The Unreleased Masters; Richard Wagner- The Golden Ring

Rossi/Hess/Moran

You Break You Buy

Diskonife, 2023

8/10

Listen to You Break You Buy

An album that was born out of one lengthy session in 2020, before the pandemic, Mick Rossi, Peter Hess and Matt Moran bring their inimitable skills to these 11 improvised gems.

The title track opens the listen with Rossi’s frisky drums, Hess’ bright sax and clarinet and Moran’s animated vibraphone for a highly energetic first impression, and “Panopticon” follows with a thick presence of Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, drums and guzheng from Rossi, as Hess’ well timed clarinet adds much to the dense formula.

In the middle, “Constants” illuminates Rossi’s tambourine skills and Hess’ tenor sax prowess, which suits Moran’s mood vibes, while “Jean Rollin” emits prepared piano and harmonium thanks to Rossi, though it’s Hess’ dreamy flute that really takes the spotlight.

“Free Lunch” and “Youngstown” exit the listen, where the former is just Rossi’s meticulous piano playing that’s nothing short of stunning, and the latter has Rossi playing synth, as Hess’ soprano sax and Moran’s vibes help make this the album’s best.

An extremely well done effort in the area of free jazz, the trio sound great, play superbly and deliver a listen that will most definitely age very well.

Travels well with: Sam Bardfeld- Refuge; Anat Cohen- Quartetinho

Jeff Richman

XYZ

Blue Canoe, 2023

8/10

Listen to XYZ

The guitarist and composer Jeff Richman has been at the helm of 18 albums now, and his jazz fusion approach is as prolific as it is exciting across these 9 tracks that welcome rhythm section luminaries Vinnie Colaiuta and Jimmy Haslip, as well as keyboardists George Whitty, Scott Kinsey, Mitchel Forman, and Otmaro Ruiz, and the trumpet soloist Jeff Beal.

The title track begins the listen with agile drumming and Richman’s indeed rich guitar playing that’s warm and melodic, and “Be Cool” follows with the bouncy bass lines and soulful brass complementing the meticulous guitar work in a dreamy fashion.

“Ray Barretto” and “Left Right Here” land in the middle, where the cultured ideas of the former are quite mesmerizing, and the latter showcases the dynamic rhythm section amid bright horns and playful keys for the album’s best.

“Bar 55” lands near the end and recruits bright textures for the stylish jazz rock nods, and “She’s Got To Be Somewhere” exits with thumping drums, precise bass work, flowing keys, and, of course, Richman’s superb guitar playing.

An excellent body of work that meshes composition with improvisation, Richman and company make for a modern take on fusion jazz that's creative, timeless and worth repeated listens.

Travels well with: Tritone Asylum- The Hideaway Sessions; Marilyn Scott- The Landscape

Del Barber

Almanac

Acronym, 2023

8/10

Listen to Almanac

An album made during the pandemic’s hardest times, the multiple Juno nominee Del Barber wrote these songs on the farm where he lives with his family, and his timeless folk ideas are front and center across the 12 thoughtful tracks.

“Something To Say” gets the listen off to a very warm start, where the glowing pedal steel, punchy drums and Barber’s smooth pipes make for a cozy climate, and “Still Got You” follows with Barber’s vivid storytelling alongside playful drums and meticulous guitar playing.

At the midpoint, “Flash In The Pan” brings grooves and melody into the radiant electric guitar and playful delivery, while “Spade” showcases Barber’s swift singing amid the country shuffling pace of the frisky songwriting.

Approaching the end, the intimate “Me And Jim” uses the mature piano and harmonic singing to tell a story about his friend, and “On My Way Out The Door” exits with a scrappy, vocally strong finish of folk, country and bluegrass ideas.

This is Barber’s 8th studio album, and it’s pretty easy to see why he’s so revered; his songs are relatable, memorable and touch on the human spirit in eloquent, heartfelt ways.

Travels well with: Jarrod Dickenson- Big Talk; Lauren Morrow- People Talk

Alexander Wren

To Whom It May Concern

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Whom It May Concern

A debut album penned ‘To a God, a woman, & an audience all unbeknownst to me...’, the 26 year old Alexander Wren creates a very unique mix of indie-rock, alt-country and psyche-folk sounds across these unpredictable 13 tracks.

“Unknown Girl” open the listen with a haze of warm guitar, crisp drums and conversational singing, and “Everything Is Meaningless” relies heavily on firm keys for the retro pop-rock melodies you won’t soon forget.

Halfway through, “Don’t Shoot” opens with a bare, mysterious climate that uses breathy vocals and hints at powerful moments amid the cinematic textures, while “Full Time Blues” offers an upbeat and rhythmic album highlight of playful, dance floor friendly song craft.

Arriving near the end, “The Long Way” finds a soulful place to reside in the dreamy, intimate landscape, and “Sincerely Yours” exits with an elegant, stylish display of cultured, rich songwriting.

A listen where each track brings new surprises, Wren rarely sits in one place for long, and his ability to navigate through many genres is as interesting as it is memorable.

Travels well with: The Nude Party- Rides On; Boulevards- Electric Cowboy: Born In Carolina Mud

Peter Orins

Dead Dead Gang

Circum-Disc, 2023

9/10

Listen to Dead Dead Gang

A listen composed by the drummer Peter Orins and that takes inspiration from the 2016 novel Jerusalem, by Alan Moore, the 4 lengthy pieces here welcome Barbara Dang, Maryline Pruvost and Gordon Pym.

“Part I: Le Fond Du Bruit Normal De La Vie” leads the listen with a mysterious atmosphere that showcases Pym’s amplified objects and Orins’ very distinct drumming alongside Pruvost’s alluring voice, and “Part II: Le Piccolo Des Grossieretes” follows with Pruvost’s Indian harmonium making for much beauty and warmth amid the curious electronics that spread out over 15 minutes of unpredictable song craft.

The back half of the listen embraces Dang’s very intimate piano initially, before a very ambient approach enters that can be haunting, buzz playfully and uses talking and singing in atypical ways in “Part III: Prelude Infini”. The final piece, “Part IV: Up The Pub”, opens with a lower register and employs repetition strategically to complement Orins’ very precise drumming.

Orins has been active in the jazz scene since the mid ‘90s, and he brings a wealth of talent and experience to this avant-garde experience that flirts with minimalism and embraces the book’s sound universes, diversity of language and many poetic references for a highly artistic, iconoclastic journey.

Travels well with: Kaze & Ikue Mori- Crustal Movement; René Lussier- Au Diable Vert

Grace Morrison

Maybe Modern

Self-Released, 2023

8/10

Listen to Maybe Modern

The Massachusetts singer and guitarist Grace Morrison returns with her 4th album, where the folk and Americana leanings take help from an all star cast of players.

The album opens with the warm and pretty “Broken Things”, where Morrison’s rich pipes align with John Chipman’s light drumming and the dreamy guitar, and “Caught Up In Your Blue” follows with Ron Flynt’s moody keys and Morrison’s expressive voice being matched by Walt Wilkins’ harmony vocals.

In the middle, the breezy and melodic “Ghost Of It” welcomes Lloyd Maines’ radiant steel guitar amid Morrison’s vivid storytelling, while “Get Along” resides deep into country territory with its hazy guitar, twinkling keys and Morrison’s soaring singing.

Nearing the end, “When It Rains” illustrates some pop ideas that benefit much from Glenn Fukunaga’s playful bass, and “God Can Be A Mother” exits with a poetic intimacy that’s stripped back to cozy acoustic guitar and Morrison’s versatile voice.

A very soulful and sincere body of work that might remind you of Kasey Musgraves, Lori McKenna or Faith Hill, Morrison is as prolific as she is memorable, and these 9 songs further solidify her as a first rate storyteller in the area of folk, Americana and country sounds.

Travels well with: Brittany Collins- Things I Tell My Therapist; Veronica Stanton- Caught Up On A Feeling

William Bland

Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2

Bridge, 2023

8/10

Listen to Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2

We’re treated to the 2nd volume of pianist Kevin Gorman’s interpretations of William Bland’s 24 piano sonatas, where a couple of world premiere pieces are part of Gorman’s expressive and colorful delivery.

“Piano Sonata No. 9 in F Major ‘Spring’” opens the listen with the flowing and very pretty key progressions making for swirling bouts of vivid song craft, as well as calmer gestures of sublime dynamics.

The middle track, “Nouveau Rag”, is largely gentle, where bursts of swift, rhythmic moments are met with soft intimacy, and “Piano Sonata No. 10 in e minor” exits with an exciting rumbling, where the lower register of the piano makes for an immediately exciting 4 chapters that have the ability to mesmerize, excite and even reflect.

A listen that embraces classical, romantic and even bluesy moments, Gorman certainly does justice to the originals, and puts a very flexible vision ahead with unparalleled attention to detail.

Travels well with: Yoojung Kim- Scriabin Recital; David Starobin- Giulio Regondi: A 200th Birthday Bouquet

Chessa Rich

Deeper Sleeper

Sleepy Cat, 2023

8/10

Listen to Deeper Sleeper

The debut album from the North Carolina singer-songwriter Chessa Rich, the multi-instrumentalist pens an album about her struggles with an undiagnosed sleep disorder, and she’s got Alex Bingham of Hiss Golden Messenger on bass and synth for the 9 folk influenced tunes.

“Paper Heart” begins the listen with Rich’s expressive singing alongside synthetic drumming and a charming modern-pop flavor amid the hazy folk ideas, and “Julia” follows with warm synth and very pretty singing that’s lush and vulnerable.

Halfway through, “Sleeping Is Easier” brings a breezy version of Americana that also fits in well with today’s version of indie-rock, as the thumping drums produce a bit more power to the equation, while “Dirty Wine Glass” buzzes with a stylish dreaminess that meshes acoustic guitar with a dance-floor mood.

“Vacation” and “Mary” exit the listen, where the former benefits much from Bingham’s precise bass lines that suits Rich’s vivid storytelling, and the latter finishes with a very reflective tone of intimate and forthright songwriting.

Rich’s work may remind you of Jenny Lewis or Sharon Van Etten, which could never a bad thing, and this debut album illustrates her edgy folk prowess and eloquent demeanor superbly.

Travels well with: Vanessa Peters- Modern Age; Melody Duncan- Wolf Song

Matt Mitchell

Oblong Aplomb

Out Of Your Head, 2023

9/10

Listen to Oblong Aplomb

The pianist and composer Matt Mitchell released his debut a decade ago and has remained continually creative since. Here, he spreads out 24 tracks across 2 discs of duos that never stay in one place very long.

The first half of the listen has Kate Gentile on drums and percussion alongside Mitchell’s unpredictable keys that opens with the firm and thumping “all immoderation”, and the oddly rhythmic “blinkered hoopla”. Further on, the frantic and mesmerizing key prowess of “alarm biffle” makes this the best from this disc, while “giggle trigger” exits this portion with a bit of restraint from the expressive keys and frisky drumming that’s both melodic and energetic.

The back half of the release features Ches Smith on drums, gongs, percussion, vibraphone, glockenspiel, tam-tam and timpani, which makes for the very distinct jazz ideas of the driving “the amused”, as well as the flowing key progressions and meticulous drumming patterns of “concentricals”. Deeper yet, “flit” carries a distinct dreaminess thanks to Mitchell’s acrobatic fingers, and “Baleful” exits with a lower register from the piano amid the animated drumming.

Mitchell’s always impressive avant-garde, free jazz and modern approach is again as exciting as it is unclassifiable, and with his excellent help he births another improvised masterpiece.

Travels well with: George- Letters To George; Marc Ducret- Palm Sweat: Marc Ducret Plays The Music Of Tim Berne

The Artie Roth Quartet

Resonants

TPR, 2023

9/10

Listen to Resonants

The bass player and composer Artie Roth is back with the 3rd release from his quartet, and it’s an eclectic affair that makes great use of his fellow Canadian improvisors Anthony Michelli, Mike Filice and Sam Dickinson.

“Sound And Sky” opens the listen with a warm ambience, where Roth’s playful yet cautious bass plucking is quite mysterious as the tune bursts directly into the acrobatic drumming from Michelli that populates the wild jazz spirit of “Sky Blues”.

Occupying the halfway spot, “Flies With Butterflies” finds a dreamy place to reside amid the soft bass plucking and Filice’s hazy sax, while “Refrain” spends 7 minutes mesmerizing us with its firm brass, crisp drums and Dickinson’s unpredictable guitar playing.

Further still, “Out Of The Abyss” showcases Roth’s very frisky bass lines in the dance floor ready album highlight, and “Resound And Ground” exits with strong attention to atmosphere and sound manipulation in the cinematic, nearly sci-fi finish.

An extremely unique listen that spans jazz, rock, funk and folk in often abstract ways, this is a 21st century concept album that really looks at jazz music with a distinct vision.

Travels well with: Redline Trio- Underdog; William Carn- Choices

Lauren Henderson

Conjuring

Brontosaurus, 2023

8/10

Listen to Conjuring

The exceptional vocalist Lauren Henderson returns with her 10th album as leader, where themes of magic and mysticism that hone in on the power of Black American Music and Afro-Latinx experiences are supported by an excellent cast for the originals and standards.

“Spells” begins the listen with Eric Wheeler’s precisely plucked bass and Sean Mason’s warm keys alongside Henderson’s intimate voice in the soulful climate, and “That Old Black Magic” follows with Joe Dyson’s playful drumming complementing the expressive and strategically enunciated singing.

“Coercion” arrives at the halfway point and places Gabe Schneider on guitar for the dreamy album highlight, while “Day Dream” welcomes Joel Ross’ very animated vibraphone to the powerful and absorbing display of gorgeously textured song craft.

“It’s Magic” and “I Wish You Love” exit the listen, where the former benefits from Nick Tannura’s cozy guitar and John Chin’s sophisticated piano playing amid Henderson’s poetic pipes, and the latter blends the keys, drums, bass, vibes and inimitable singing into a truly timeless, memorable finish.

Henderson’s past albums includes Latin music and jazz nods, and this body of work also embraces, soul, R&B, fusion, and Flamenco moments into a very impressive 10 tracks.

Travels well with: Danielle Wertz- Other Side; Hailey Brinnel- Beautiful Tomorrow

JP Ruggieri

Gradually Descended Into Chaos

Self-Titled, 2023

8/10

Listen Gradually Descended Into Chaos

The sophomore album from the Nashville artist JP Ruggieri, this aptly titled listen surrounds some very difficult moments in the multi-instrumentalists life, and it welcomes several guest musicians to the personal affair.

“Kill A Smile” opens the listen with crisp drums and warm guitar, as Ruggieri’s cozy voice carries a bluesy, folky sort of appeal in the hazy climate, and “Buckets” follows with pounding drums from Jano Rix and Pete Ayres’ inviting backing vocals for the highly rhythmic delivery.

Further along, “Up By The River” uses Jordan Scannella’s precise bass superbly in the highly textured and horn friendly album highlight thanks to Matt Glassmeyer’s brass, while “Without The Sun” welcomes Oliver Wood’s inimitable pipes alongside the bright keys and thick layers.

“Prefer To Lose” and “Carry” exit the listen, where the former is a heartfelt and reflective moment, and the latter welcomes Ward Williams’ cello to the intimate and poetic finish that illustrates an impressive range from Ruggieri.

A very forthright listen that’s sometimes intense and takes on a healing aspect, too, Ruggieri recently ended a long term relationship, lost 30% of his hearing in one ear after having surgery to cure a chronic condition, and endured the chaos of the pandemic. Despite all this, he remains optimistic, grateful and grounded, as evidenced by this thoughtful and therapeutic record.

Travels well with: Jarrod Dickenson- Big Talk; Mark Erelli- Lay Your Darkness Down

A Far Cry & Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol

A Gentleman Of Istanbul

Crier, 2023

9/10

Listen to A Gentleman Of Istanbul

A very involved listen that brings the composer and multi-instrumentalist Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol to work commissioned by the Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra A Far Cry, the 4 meticulous pieces here welcome Turkish traditional, western classical, and jazz sounds.

“The Clocks And Bells Of Vienna” opens the listen with the dynamic and intricate strings making for much warmth, as the well timed oud from Sanlikol and light percussive moments complement the mood, and “The Death Of Kaya Sultan”, a jazz ballad, flows with Sanlikol’s graceful piano prowess amid the dreamy string interaction.

On the back half, the intimate “The Vegetarian Dervishes” uses George Lernis’ drumming and Sanlilokol’s mesmerizing oud to help make this the album’s best, while “Alexander The Great” exits with a bit of ominousness to the tense, evolving song craft that illustrates Sanlikol’s expressive singing in often cinematic swells of energetic blasts.

A body of work that follows the 17th-century Ottoman world traveler, Evliya Çelebi, and touches on the identity of this Muslim adventurer while celebrating the rich history and cultural diversity within Islam, A Far Cry and Sanlikol make for an enlightening, multi-cultural experience that will be appreciated worldwide.

Travels well with: Duo Della Luna- Mangetsu; Timuçin Şahin’s Flow State- Funk Poems For ‘Bird’

Strunz & Farah

Syncretic Strings

Selva, 2023

8/10

Listen to Syncretic Strings

The Grammy-nominated acoustic guitar greats Strunz & Farah bring a small handful of esteemed guests for these Latin, Middle Eastern, jazz fusion, and acoustic rock songs that are as unpredictable as they are cultured.

“Summerborn” gets the listen off to a highly melodic start, where the flowing guitars and crisp drumming emit much warmth, and “This Could Only Be” follows with plenty of rhythm, as the superbly meticulous guitar progressions are nothing short of fascinating.

At the halfway point, “Merry Chase” displays firm drumming amid the radiant, pretty guitar tone, while “Fortune’s Brothers” displays very playful percussive sounds to complement the swift guitar picking prowess.

Close to the end, the intimate and dreamy “Jungle Rain” uses the bass guitar precisely to illuminate the skilled drumming, and “Cybele’s Jester” exits with a festive and highly energetic delivery of cultured songwriting.

Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah’s guitar acrobatics are nothing short of stunning, and with Al Di Meola (percussion), Carlos del Puerto (bass), Ron Wagner (drums), Carlitos Cuba (bass), Paul Alexander Gonzales (drums), Luis Conte (percussion), Majeed Ghorbani (percussion), and Diego Alvarez (percussion) along for the occasion, every second here is absorbing.

Travels well with: Dogo Du Togo- Dogo Du Togo; Plena Libre- Cuatro Esquinas

Lucas De Mulder & The New Mastersounds

Feel The Spirit

Color Red, 2023

8/10

Listen to Feel The Spirit

The Madrid resident Lucas de Mulder knows his way around a guitar, and here with Simon Allen and Joe Tatton of The New Mastersounds fame, plus others, he tips his hat to Grant Green with these funk fueled 12 tracks.

“Ginger Beat” opens the listen with scrappy drums and fluid, meticulous guitar lines from de Mulder, as jazz and soul come together superbly, and “Come Out At Night” follows with a calming, cinematic quality that radiates warmth.

In the middle, the cautious “Keep Walking” uses Nate Edgar’s skilled bass with excellent results alongside de Mulder’s cozy guitar, while the powerful “Say Goodbye”, the album’s best, is full of swift energy and dance friendly ideas.

Landing near the end, the intimate “Redbone” puts a fresh coat of paint on the Childish Gambino cover, and “Underground Dance” exits with the dynamic rhythm section complementing de Mulder’s very memorable guitar playing in a stylish, timeless fashion.

Also in attendance is Chris Spies (keyboards), Jeremy Salken (drums), Gabriel Mervine (trumpet) and Alejandro Castaño (drums), who all contribute much to this focused, animated and imaginative tribute to Green’s inestimable legacy.

Travels well with: Alex Dunn- Southern Star; The New Mastersounds- The Deplar Effect

Peter Lewis

Imagination

Omad, 2023

9/10

Listen to Imagination

The legendary founder of the San Francisco outfit Moby Grape, Peter Lewis brings a lifetime of experience and skill in the area of songwriting for this eclectic listen that focuses on mortality and how we choose to deal with it.

“Just Like Sunshine” opens the listen with Lewis’ soaring electric guitar and distinct voice alongside John DeNicola’s bass, percussion and harmonium for the crisp, psychedelic rocker, and “Without You” follows with Alan Zahn’s warm piano complementing the soft singing from Lewis in the heartfelt climate.

Some doo-wop nods land in the middle, where the playful “If I Just Had You” welcomes Tommy Allen’s precise drums, while the driving pace of the melodic rocker “Path Of Least Resistance”, which could easily find a spot on the FM dial, might be the album’s best.

Approaching the end, “The Garden Song” showcases Brian Delaney’s drum skills amid Zahn’s cozy organ for the country waltz, and “Saying Goodbye” exits with a jazzy demeanor that showcases Randy Tico’s bass work and Jeff Eliot’s well timed trumpet.

Sort of gravelly at times, highly thoughtful, and balancing both cautious and firm textures, Lewis never disappoints, and this body of work is yet another glowing, mature and, of course, imaginative listen.

Travels well with: John Denicola- She Said; Peter Lewis- The Road To Zion

Lebeha Drummers

Biama

Neuma, 2023

8/10

Listen to Biama

An assembly of drummers from Belize, the Lebeha Drummers also bring vocals, calabash shakers and turtle shells to these new and old songs that are set to traditional rhythms like punta, paranda, chumba, wanaragua and hunguhungu.

“Cabasa Wiega (We Are Hungry)” opens the listen with warm and rhythmic drumming alongside the soaring, very poetic singing that’s quite eloquent, and “Garifuna Nuguya (I Am Garifuna)” follows with dynamic group drumming and harmonic group vocals that are busy and very meticulous.

Halfway through, “Wanaragua” showcases swift and focused drumming patterns, while “Combination Dance” will indeed get your body in motion to the rapid fire drum manipulation that’s quite fascinating.

Close to the end, the vocally strong “Uma (Road)” use drums and percussive sounds with much exploration, and “Numadagunu (My Friends)” exits with a very spirited and heartfelt presence.

The band consists of Jabbar Lambey (segunda), Warren Martinez (vocals, primero, shakkas turtle shells), and Clayton Williams (vocals, segunda, primero, shakkas). Additional vocals and claves are courtesy of Marcela Torres, and together they make for an unplugged affair that remains true to their traditional roots for this really enlightening experience.

Travels well with: Aaron Jay Myers- Late Night Banter; William Duckworth- The Time Curve Preludes

Flagship Romance

Concentric

Gatorbone, 2019

9/10

Listen to Concentric

A real life romance, the married duo of Flagship Romance pair a rock’n’roll history with a jazz background, as Shawn Fisher and Jordyn Jackson create glowing harmonies in their indie-folk formula on this very articulate album.

“Crossroads” gets the album off to a graceful start with keys and soothing vocal harmonies that builds into a fuller, lush explosion of melody, and “(Love Is) Running Me Ragged” follows with playful acoustic guitars in the bright instrumentation.

Deeper tracks include the calm balladry of the title track that emits a powerful display of subdued beauty, and the contemplative pop friendly tension of “Chardonnay”, which could easily make the pair a household name.

Near the end, “Dorothy” puts the pretty vocals of Jackson on display in a folky-pop tune, and “This Land Was Your Land” highlights their warm vocal harmonies in an intimate setting as their take on the Guthrie classic turns a bit darker in scope. “His Town” ends the record strong with memorable Americana fun, again highlighting the duo’s strong chemistry.

An album with a little bit of everything, from pop to rock to soul, country and folk, there’s certainly a lot of thoughtful songcraft present on Concentric, and it easily warrants repeated listens.

Travels well with: The Lone Bellow- Walk Into A Storm; Shakey Graves- Can’t Wake Up