One facet of lockdown 2020 is how a far greater amount of newly recorded music is being consumed partly in lieu of a lack of live gigs to divert your listening attention. So instead of having your ears guided by who you have just caught live or about to see, more recorded music from a variety of sources is cropping up to occupy the space. The Furious Seasons are a band to benefit from this scenario and time has graciously been spent listening to their new album in the run up to its release. The chances of this album emerging in a busy festival packed summer thousands of miles from its LA source were remote, but it has, and full compliments to a band making LA FONDA a wholly satisfying listening experience.
The Furious Seasons are a core trio of musicians comprising of the Steinhart brothers (David and Jeff) and guitarist Paul Nelson. They have settled on a largely acoustic approach for this album with just the odd moment of musical enhancement putting flesh on the bones of some tracks. Checking their background reveals an experienced trio in various guises and this clearly shows in the mature and distinguished way they go about making music. It's markedly aimed for the gentler side of the folk-Americana market and carries enough craft and assuredness to garner praise and recommendation.
The neatly compiled ten tracks drift along in a melancholic breeze full of sensitive and reflective songwriting that you have come to expect from the singer-songwriter fraternity. If a contemporary comparison is sought think the Milk Carton Kids meet Michael McDermott. Shades of the latter's emotive vocal feel mixed with the intricate style of the former; an interesting blend that pays off.
The reason behind highlighting tracks like 'The Vast Divide' and 'Your Irish Funeral' is as much as they prosper in the zone of being embedded deep into the heart of the album rather than overly superior to preceding songs. As a listener there are rich pickings throughout the forty-plus minute playing time.
On this third release outing as a trio, The Furious Seasons have used an aesthetic template to host of lyrically sensitive set of songs. LA FONDA is an enticing and attractive album thriving in a stripped back setting and ultimately benefitting in these quarters from the different musical horizon that 2020 has thrown up.
As emphasised in other recent reviews, an artist friendly Bandcamp link is posted to at least make a digital version available to anybody in the world.
