Reviewed by Paul Kerslake

This most gifted of singer/songwriters has been touring and releasing records for over a decade, and this latest release is his 12th. It was recorded within eight days with his regular collaborators, Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn. The set opens with the song "Many Roads", a comforting and accomplished slice of Americana. Andrew possesses a warm voice, laid back and melodic. Similarly the album has a mellow, late night feel; the majority of the tracks are mid-paced and gentle. "Planting Trees" tells the story of leaving legacies, a reminder that we will all leave something behind when we're gone. Andrew has a poetic way with words, and the musical and lyrical content of each and every song is perfectly balanced. "World Traveler" introduces some tabla into the mix of acoustic guitars and keys; "You Came So Close" uses effects to add interest to the percussive backing creating a trance-like rhythm. The subtle nuances of the instrumentation lift the songs into something quite special; guitars and piano lead but the additional, and in some cases, unusual instruments complement the songs perfectly. Closing track "The Reckoning (How Long)" is a rousing finish that completes the album with a call to the second coming. Folk-orientated music can sometimes become a bit repetitive, but the combination of finely-crafted songs and adept musicianship raises this album to the highest level.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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