Making the sort of music that sits between the classic singer-songwriter territory and music created in a dreamier, more cosmic roots realm, Flatlander is a gorgeous album. It’s a collection of songs that wander around the musical map, blending deft acoustica and indie-folk finesse, troubadour traditions and forward-thinking sonics, analog artistry, and digital delights. It’s the perfect album for the here and now, but woven from threads that are folktronically familiar to fans of artists like Bon Iver.
Dip into songs like “Shoulders,” and the shimmering gentleness and ornate beauty will bowl you over; you will hear the echo of the grace of Simon & Garfunkel put through a modern sonic filter. “Stockholm Syndrome” shows the more band-driven side of Lyle Hutchins’ music, but even when the beat and buoyancy are turned up, there is still a wonderful mix of understatement and elegance, chime and charm to be found, and “Till It Thaws” is the perfect blend of substance and sparseness, a song whose use of space perfectly frames the delicacy of the music, sonic cracks where the light gets in.
Flatlander is an excellent set of songs, ones that not only jump between genres but also between eras and technologies. If you were looking for a perfect example of where the rootsier side of music is heading today, I can think of few better examples.
