Seth Warden leads this operation gracing his name from the less populous spaces of New York state and maybe the title highlights an element of anonymity. After a longish run-in of performing and releasing shorter recordings, an opportunity has been grasped to show what the band can really do when afforded a wider platform. From a streamlined base of violin, viola, guitars and percussion, SOMEWHERE peers out from the wilderness to present an eleven-track/forty-minute offering of music self-anointed as a stab at folk rock, all enriched by a tuneful element. There is a popular strand to the sensibilities of Warden and Co, which does make the album an accessible listen. Whether the intention to branch out from the hinterland is strong or not, it has landed on foreign shores, and its neatly presented wares at least make it a worthwhile one to check out.
The opening track 'Living for Love' is a clear representation of what you are going to get, so it's a sensible move to enable it as a promotional single and position it up front. Other highlights on the record include the violin-pop infused 'PSA' lodged in core of the record and the catchy 'Without the Word'. The latter is another fine example of fiddle firmly putting the folk into folk rock.
SOMEWHERE possesses suitable guile to find its niche. It will probably need a live presence to back it up, but the versatility and fluidity of recorded music in the digital age can confound early impressions. Warden and Co. have set the agenda with their debut record. Time will tell where it leads.
