Hello Starling
— SIG 1280
Josh Ritter’s songs are a rare gift of natural, intuitive
beauty. Maybe it’s his Idaho roots (promising far more
resilience in the face of music industry pressures than a
Manhattanite gene pool would), or his suitably tousled hairstyle
– or maybe it’s just the ethereal collision of inspired
songwriting, understated passion, and an arsenal of future
classics that sets him apart. Last year saw Josh garnering
impressive acclaim not only for his debut album Golden Age of
Radio but also for his richly textured and engaging live shows
on both sides of the Atlantic.
In February of this year, Ritter entered Black
Box studios in rural France with his touring band and Irish
producer David Odlum (the Frames, Gemma Hayes) to record Hello
Starling. Recorded and mixed in only 14 days in an old dairy
barn, the thick stone walls, high ceilings, and vintage gear (much
of it Curtis Mayfield’s old equipment), made for a record which
sounds conversational and honest and shimmers with a new-found
confidence. His masterful use of imagery is exemplified in
"Kathleen," a summer anthem about waiting around a party
to drive a girl home. "You Don’t Make It Easy Babe"
recalls Dylan’s "Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright,"
in form and sound, though Josh exchanges the troubadours’
grizzled edge for Leonard Cohen’s grace. And, far beyond this,
the ethereal, show-stopping beauty of "Baby That’s Not
All" suggests an artist at the peak of his new-found powers.
Legendary artist Joan Baez hand-picked Ritter’s song
"Wings" to record for her new album and invited Josh on
the road with her. With such talent in tow, he just may get his
wish – "There’s no shame in hoping a song will be
remembered long after you’re gone." |
