(2018) Simon Linsteadt - February

Review:
As lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for indie Americana band Steep Ravine, twenty-four-year-old Simon Linsteadt has quickly established himself as a prolific and engaging songwriter fluent in a wide variety of genres, from folk, to rock, to jazz, to bluegrass. Linsteadt’s third solo album February is contemplative, gentle, and at times light-hearted, weaving threads of folk atop a mellow indie rock/pop atmosphere.
Recorded at his home studio Stormy Deep Studios, Linsteadt played all instruments on the album including guitar, bass, piano, organ, percussion (with the exception of drums played by Alex Bice of Steep Ravine on two songs) and more. Of note is Linsteadt’s use of thrifted and otherwise less than perfect instruments. Capitalizing on the musical character inherent in each, they provide background texture and tonality to Linsteadt’s compositions. An old Kingston bass from a pawnshop was stuffed with a sponge at the base of the bridge to get a punchy, dry sound. A heavy Baldwin organ, with more than a few mechanical failings, makes its way into the background of several songs providing a nice soft tone. A free Craigslist antique miniature upright tack piano was spared from an inevitable fate with a dumpster, and given renewed life on the tune “When The Cows Get Out of The Road.” After the songs were recorded, Linsteadt took the tapes to San Francisco’s renowned analog Tiny Telephone Studios, where they were mixed by engineer Jacob Winik. Whether it’s the urgent lyrical repetition and fervent harmonica on “Something That I Need,” the haunting nylon string melody subtly punctuated by a marching snare drum on the title track “February”.
01 - Pickleweed
02 - Vulture
03 - February
04 - Crazy Ride
05 - The Alien
06 - Something That I Need
07 - When the Cows Get Outta the Road
08 - Long Time
09 - New Morning

Summary:
Country: USA
Genre: indie-folk