Garrett
Heath – Whisper In The Dark (Independent)
“Whisper In The Dark” is singer-songwriter Garrett
Heath’s third album release since 2009 - though it’s the first with
international distribution, which makes it much easier to find. It’s a
literate, understated collection, and after living with it for a week or so,
I’ll be keeping a keen look out for his earlier records.
The Pennsylvania native lives in a cabin with his
family, out in the wilds of his home state, and he records his music in a home
studio built in a converted wood shed. The easy, rootsy nature of both Heath’s
approach to recording and his lifestyle as a whole is reflected in a collection
of songs that are never less than warm and wholly inviting.
Heath’s sound and style feels rooted in the folk
music and singer-songwriter fare of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, and that owes a
great deal to his themes of love and loss, which are, of course, timeless. He
backs them with a well-rounded production and a range of instruments, including
guitar, harmonica and a relaxed rhythm section.
Beginning with “I Still Believe”, a slow-build love
song with a simple message at its heart and a chorus that burrows deep. It’s
followed by the jauntier “Don't You Worry”, and
listeners of a certain vintage will be reminded of Jackson C. Frank and John
Prine’s wonderful early records – which is obviously no bad thing. The
atmospheric “Sorrows and Pain” might be the pick
of the bunch, where distressed strings and Heath’s sorrow-drenched delivery
underpin its hard-luck narrative and general air of desperation. Great stuff!
Phil S.
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