A Filament In The Wilderness Or What Comes Next
Cutthroat Pop, 2021
8/10
Listen to A Filament In The Wilderness Or What Comes Next
A Maine resident who excels at songwriting and poetry, Chris Robley provides vocals, keys and guitars to all these diverse tracks, and takes help from an all star cast of players who help illuminate his personal and political tunes.
Robley starts the listen with firm acoustic strumming and warm keys of “American Dreams”, as brief bouts of brass add much to the distinct Americana formula that welcomes Anna Tivel’s pipes, and “There’s A Bird” follows with a firm gospel angle where many voices highlight the soulful climate that segues into a playful version of indie-pop where Daniel Adlaf’s keys make an impression.
In the middle, “Sandra” emits much beauty in its bare, Rob Flax fueled strings and display of sublime emotion, while “Love Is A Four-Letter Word” is full of heartfelt and melodic song craft that graces us with Anders Bergstrom’s drums and Arthur Parker’s bass.
At the end, “Love In A Time Of Sharp Decline” showcases both grit and tunefulness in Robley’s articulate and memorable vision amid Tivel’s violin and singing, and “Filament” exits the listen with a light buzzing alongside bluesy guitar in a duet thanks to Margaret Gibson Wehr’s expressive voice and Bennie Morrison’s sax.
The loss of his father, the recent administration and the legions of political and social injustice give Robley plenty of songwriting fodder, and his collaborators extend the reach of his songs into very articulate and alluring avenues you won’t forget soon.
Travels well with: Anna Tivel- The Question; Vincent Cross- The Life And Times Of James ‘The Rooster’ Corcoran