Song(s) of the Day # 3,673 Lamplight

 

In the sway of a rural breeze, Ian Hatcher -Williams vocals soothe and enchant the listener on his self-titled debut album as Lamplight which recounts his odyssey from a child raised in a Virginia cult to a burnt out tech worker in New York, then back to Virginia, happily married to his childhood friend, Throughout the album Hatcher -Williams explores how identity as it relates to where a person is from and evolves with where they live, and how that facet of self is further compounded by the agency one has over where they call home. To some extent Lamplight is about learning when to take the reins and when to let go - discovering what parts of yourself should be pruned so new branches can grow.'

Everybody it seems is chancing their arm at Rock journalism these days. Sonic cathedrals indeed. This is the Spotify bio for Lamplight by Lamplight and frankly I'm shrugging my shoulders too. The review nevertheless offers insight into one of the most beautiful albums I've heard this year. Enchanting is the right word. This is a record that reminds me of Fleet Foxes, Phosphorescent's Muchacho and Bon Iver's For Emma in terms of its poetic, haunting quality.

This is high praise and elite company indeed, but this is something which casts a spell and none of these are inappropriate points of comparison. This is a magical record barely three months into a year which has issued no end of them already.

I'm first reminded of Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin'  by opening track Play. I always like tracks that remind me of Everybody's Talkin'. Lamplight proceeds from here. There are more questions than answers here which is exactly what you want.Best listened to by lamplight early in the morning. A record which amply rewards investment. A special record indeed which I will return to. Soon.