On this album, Elverson, Pennsylvania artist Greg Weeks returns after a 17-year hiatus from music, where he takes influence from an Oriana Fallaci novel and enlists poetic wordplay, moody acoustic guitar and a light helping of analog instruments.
The title track is placed in the lead off position and allows Weeks’ warm guitar and heartfelt singing to reside alongside Ben McConnell’s soft drumming. “The Heathen Heart” is a bit thicker and uses keys in a way that gives the setting a chamber feel, but it’s Jesse Sparhawk's intricate bass across “A Narrow Star” that aligns with the gentle guitar and expressive vocals which makes this stand out on Side A.
“Tail Lights Burn The Hillside Red” and “Dream You Awake” exit the first half. The former enlists vivid storytelling and timeless folk songwriting to its advantage, while the latter balances crunchy moments with a bare beauty as Weeks hits some pretty high notes.
Side B is a bit more optimistic in scope, where “Driven” is brighter with its melodic guitar, crisp drums and colorful keys, and “Rainless” picks up the pace even more with an ambient backdrop amid the scrappy drums and playful bass
Close to the end, “A Million Ways To Die” isn’t as bleak as it sounds via the dreamy landscape which mesmerizes us with some firm lyrics, and “What It Takes” exits with an initially sparse climate that builds into a powerful folk-rock appeal.
Weeks left the music industry in 2008 to focus on teaching and family, though writing books during the lockdown sparked his interest in writing songs again. He has since started up his full band (Espers), rebuilt his recording studio, resurrected his record label and found time to pen this seventh solo album of folk songs for the contemplative ears.