ARTiST: Stephen Ashbrook
ALBUM: White Balloons
BiTRATE: 183kbps avg
QUALiTY: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.97 Final / -V2 --vbr-new / 44.100Khz
LABEL: Ruku Records
GENRE: Rock
SiZE: 56.32 megs
PLAYTiME: 0h 40min 37sec total
RiP DATE: 2009-03-25
STORE DATE: 2008-00-00
Track List:
--------
01. Carelessly 4:01
02. Geronimo 3:45
03. Barstar 3:40
04. White Balloons 4:20
05. Good Life 3:36
06. You Are Here 3:55
07. Shame 3:49
08. Try (Try To Fall In Love) 3:18
09. 21 Young 3:35
10. First Time 3:05
11. Mile Marker 45 3:33
Release Notes:
--------
His first album in some six years (fatherhood and serious throat surgery
occurred in the interim, so weÆll let him off for now) Ashbrook is clearly in no
rush, and so it proves as we make our way through this thoroughly impressive new
collection.
Opener æCarelesslyÆ really encapsulates what Ashbrook does best. Warm,
believable, almost resigned vocals swept across swirling and atmospheric, yet
simple arrangements. ItÆs a song bettered only by the glorious title-track, a
beautiful, brooding moment with echoes of crying lap-steel in the mix, and some
implied darkness amongst the intermittent light (I donÆt know if this will
comfort you/If it hurts then itÆs supposed to).
Elsewhere some Josh Rouse-alike melodies appear (æGeronimoÆ, æYou are HereÆ
particularly), and in fact at times æWhite BalloonsÆ feels like a younger
sibling to RouseÆs æNashvilleÆ album only in that it takes a very similar route.
That of strong, concise acoustic pop songs with a naturally fitting country/folk
gloss, strong on languid melody, atmosphere & accessibility.
The quality control on æWhite BalloonsÆ barely dips for a moment. Strongly and
sympathetically produced throughout, giving the whole record a simply beautiful
atmosphere of space, calm and warmth with AshbrookÆs voice and acoustic upfront.
Another six years will be too long to wait for some more, because æWhite
BalloonsÆ is a complete triumph.