Catch a wave
Picks from a busy season of new music spanning many genres
A slew of spring releases could be your soundtrack for an endless summer.
Way back in the day, Rolling Stone magazine adopted the motto “All the news that fits!”
That’s kind of how I feel about this batch of local album reviews. The past few months have featured a bevy of new releases from artists in the 518 and surrounding areas, across pretty much every genre. There’s too many to touch upon in one column, but here are four that are sure to bring you aural pleasure. A Steve Hammond — “Small Songs/a Perfect Half-life”
Last year, Troy resident Steve Hammond embarked on an ambitious project: he wrote, recorded and released a new song each week for the entirety of 2020. That was called “Small Songs” and the breadth of styles and sounds it explores is stunning. In the spring, he released “Small Songs” on cassette and included a book that featured the photo or artwork that accompanied each of the 52 songs. But Hammond isn’t resting on his laurels. At the end of April he released “A Perfect Half-life” and it’s a front-runner for my favorite local album of 2021. The 10 tracks are eclectic, hitting punk, noise rock, shoegaze, electropop and honky tonk. Both releases serve to highlight two things: the first is Hammond’s willingness to take artistic chances and explore different genres. The second is the skill and comfort in which he pulls it all off. Nothing sounds out of place; no songs fall flat or come off forced. Just dozens of fantastic tunes from one of the area’s most skilled and prolific talents. To listen, visit lorco.bandcamp.com.
A County Mike — “The Boat”
I’ve known Michael Campana for several years and get along well with him. As lo-fi indiefolkie County Mike, he’s found the ideal outlet for harnessing his musical ideas. “The Boat” is his first release in nearly five years and he’s used that time to really tighten his writing and performing abilities. Don’t let the song titles fool you; “The
Boat” is more than just a nautical-themed concept album. It’s a narrative about finding a space where you have peace of mind, and the people within that space, in this case a fictitious boat with a woman and her child. Campana follows through on this concept with grace and a light touch. “Dance With Me” is a pretty little ditty, the type of sweet song that could be sung to and about a precocious child, while “Boating Woman” tells the story of that child’s mother. Campana has never attempted such a tight narrative flow in his songs before, and as a friend and listener, I’m glad he was able to nail it. Visit countymike.bandcamp.com.
Gavin Preller — “There is Wonder”
The debut LP from 21-yearold Delmar native kind of came out of nowhere. Over a year ago, Preller was living in a van in Portland, Ore., and returned to the Capital Region when the pandemic hit. Once back here, he set up shop at his parents’ house and recorded this album. Preller establishes himself as a promising young talent on “This is Wonder.” On the instrumental track “111,” he proves to be a top-notch pianist, while “You Can Always Go” and “Sometime” merge dreamy folk-pop with really interesting alt-rock flourishes. “Curtains” would be a straightforward indie-folk tune, if not for the offbeat piano chords that augment it. These intriguing arrangements and melodies exist throughout “There is Wonder” and present Preller as an artist with a keen ear for composition. New York City-based label Shimmy-disc signed Preller off the strength of this album and it’s easy to see why. Considering he put together such a mature album on his first attempt (it’s the first time he’s ever even sang!), Preller is a young artist with a great deal of potential. Visit gavinpreller.bandcamp.com.
Amy Helm - “What the Flood Leaves Behind”
After recording her last album in Los Angeles, Amy Helm returned to her native Woodstock and recorded “What the Flood Leaves Behind” at her legendary father Levon Helm’s studio (aka The Barn). Working with a team of friends and critically acclaimed collaborators, Helm continues to hone her reputation as one of the finest Americana vocalists the genre has to offer. The songs themselves are a mix of gospel and roots, tales of men and women struggling with addiction, loss and heartache.
It’s the type of fare Levon brought to vivid life as a solo artist and with The Band; Amy is equally adept at conveying the emotional heft and dramatic delivery the songs deserve. “Cotton and the Cane” is my personal favorite. Helm’s heartfelt delivery brings the characters, the downtrodden and the desperate, to the forefront and makes for masterful musical storytelling. Three albums into her solo career, and Helm continues to grow and define herself as a vocalist and interpreter.