Cass McCombs - Heartmind

 

Cass McCombs remains an artist who determinedly maps his own road. This is aways rare but particularly in the field of singer songwriting, where so much has gone before and so much is happening at any particular point in time.

So musicians can and generally do remind you of others. Bob Dylan most notably in this line of work. But also Van Morrison, Elton John, Lou Reed, Van Morrison, Elliott Smith, Kate Bush or Joni Mitchell.

McCombs used to be a bit like Elliot in terms of the way he structured and presented his songs but not really anymore. Now he strikes me as a great journeyman out on the great American highway. He generally reminds me most of all of himself,  and the targets and high standards he sets himself.

Latest record Heartmind is another testimony to his genuine and unique talent. Each song is a voyage of discovery that sets off from a different point of departure. There are eight tracks here, each one dabbling in a different musical genre and each one seeming to set itself a different philosophical dilemma for McCombs to explore and attempt to discover solutions for.

Whether this makes for a record that listeners will return to, remains to be seen. McCombs sets the bar high for them too. He's certainly not an easy listening experience. All credit to the man. He clearly has the evident talent to produce something more easily digestable which would reap greater commercial success and critical acclaim. He consistently chooses not to opt for the easy route.

On first listen I'm not sure what I think of this record and what I will think of it by the end of 2022. I can be lazy too and opt for albums that offer up more immediate answers and obvious pleasures. But there's certainly enough here to encourage me to return and discover its charms further. If artists are brave enough to try and explore new paths continually the least we can do is try to follow and appraise them fully. I only hope I grow to love it. McCombs is certainly a man who demands love and respect.

* Signs look good on second listening. I'm establishing its rhythms and suspect this is a keeper.