Spectreview: Leif Vollebekk – New Ways

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The smoky voice, the warmth of the organ, the soulful delivery that rises and falls like illuminated dust particles – Leif Vollebekk may be right in line with current trends in folky singer-songwriter music, but there’s a certain je ne sais quoi buried within the familiar sounds and typical storytelling beats. You get the sense that Vollebekk’s searching for more, even as he’s hesitant to step too far outside his comfort zone as demonstrated on his latest LP, New Ways. The title’s definitely a little misleading; it’s still his spotlit presence belting and crooning across delicate piano and brushed drums. The overall feel, however, has subtly shifted from straight Americana to the local jazz club; the piano’s a little louder, the drums are a little softer, and Vollebekk’s whiskey is suddenly accompanied by a few ice cubes. That being said, a familiar environment doesn’t mean a lack of progress: Vollebekk’s arrangements are a touch more nuanced across the board, at time bearing a greater sense of adventure than ever before. New Ways works best in these itinerant moments: the steady traipse of “Blood Brother” is among one of his finest songs, while the dash of syncopation and guitar in “Hot Tears” brings it to a new level. Vocally there’s still a little room for improvement, but only in a performative capacity: while the rapid-fire verses on “Never Be Back” are clunky and the closing yodels on “Apalachee Plain” feel likea square peg jammed into a round hole, the creativity of his lyrics are far from the worst this kind of music has to offer. By and large though, New Ways is nothing if not another solid set of songs by a dependable, emotional songwriter, one who peculiarly feels like he’s looking for another window to break through.

Recommended for FX drama end credits.