Greg Laswell
(Vanguard)
Cloaked in ambience and atmosphere, Greg Laswell’s previous albums were infused with ruminations on heartache and desire, creating a contemplative sound that’s proved both beautiful and beguiling. His new offering, the final phase of a trilogy that’s taken him from regret to redemption, proves his most compelling effort yet.
Laswell’s songs hold to a structure he established early on. “It’s Been A Year,” “That It Moves,” “Comes and Goes (In Waves)” and “How The Day Sounds” begin in reflective mode, their shimmering arrangements building and then cresting in a rich and radiant outflow. Because it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate one track from another, he makes a far more intimate – and it might be argued, more effective – connection with “Sweet Dream” and “Farewell,” songs that rely on the gentle lilt of acoustic guitar and piano in lieu of that effusive instrumentation.
Still, that’s a minor quibble when judging the album as a whole. The mesmerizing soundscapes create a dazzling embrace, resulting in a lush tapestry that entwines music, mood and emotion. That finds Three Flights From Alto Nido to be one of the loveliest albums released so far this year, a very short leap away from sheer nirvana.
Standout Tracks: “The
One I Love” “Sweet Dream” “And Then You” LEE ZIMMERMAN
