REVIEW: DAVID LINDSAY - Ever So

DAVID LINDSAY
Ever So
Fallingfoot Records (2023)

If you’ve been a long-time reader of my reviews, you know that one of the highest compliments I can give to an album is to refer to the music as “autumnal” in nature. Autumn is my favorite time of year and one of the things I always look forward to is traveling the rural roads in Minnesota and Wisconsin while listening to a certain kind acoustic music, music that is exemplified on guitarist David Lindsay’s latest release Ever So. As on his previous CDs (two of which I have reviewed), Lindsay excels (emphasis on excels) in crafting soundscapes of gentle introspection, sometimes incorporating melancholic or somber elements, but always retaining a beauty and soulfulness that only the finest practitioners in this particular genre (acoustic guitar instrumental) wield with such beauty and grace. Ever So is the perfect soundtrack to gray skies, red/gold leaves on trees, rolling hills where the corn has been harvested yet the land is not barren or bleak, but suffused with the always somewhat-sad feeling of the earth going to sleep for the winter. Of course, sunny days don’t necessitate avoiding this album, as even sun-dappled clouds can impart of sense of reflection and the recall of pleasant or even sad memories.

Once again, Lindsay makes a pilgrimage to what now appears to be the Mecca for contemporary instrumental artists these days (and has been for more than a few years) Imaginary Road Studios in Windham County, Vermont (a place I’d love to visit someday but, then again, I am not a musician so that’s my bad luck). Will Ackerman gets sole production credit this time (see below for full production credits).

Only three of the eleven tracks are solo guitar (I would’ve preferred one or two more, but that’s just my love affair with solo acoustic guitar talking). Many of the IR usual suspects are on board (see album info below). And, as if it needs stating, every one of them comports themselves tastefully and artistically, but except in a few instances, Lindsay’s guitar dominates the musical landscape, although it’s worth mentioning that the talented Jill Haley appears on four tracks and I never tire of hearing her soulful yet restrained English horn wafting above or alongside Lindsay’s melodies.

Overall, the mood (as mentioned above) is soft, serene tinted with subtle somberness, and generally slow-paced. One exception is the second track, the gently effervescent "Free To Be" which also features the most guests (standout violin work here by Charlie Bisharat – bravo, sir!).  "A Love Song" also slightly ups the tempo to more of a normal walking pace as opposed to a slow stroll, which is what most of the songs here call to mind.

Ever So reinforces my belief, forged from his first release, 2015’s Nightbound, that Lindsay is that rare artist who can do no wrong. It’d be wrong to say he is a budding artist, as he sprang forth years ago. The only issue he may face is keeping his streak of excellent albums alive….nah, who am I kidding? That’s in the bag. This man will never run out of music to enrich our lives.

ALBUM DETAILS
All songs written by David Lindsay
Album produced by Will Ackerman
Recorded at Imaginary Road Studios, Windham County, Vermont
Engineered and mixed by Bill Esses
Mastering by Tom Eaton at Sound & Substance
Cover photo: David Lindsay, Back cover photo: Janet Creaser
Additional art direction: Right As Rain Productions, Toronto, Canada

INSTRUMENT CREDITS
David Lindsay: acoustic guitar
Will Ackerman : lead acoustic guitar (first two tracks)
Jill Haley: English Horn
Michael Manring: bass, fretless
Charlie Bisharat: violin
Noah Wilding: voice