We’re not quite a lot of bars deep within the tune “That Web page Gained’t Flip” earlier than it turns into greater than obvious how vital hedonistic string play goes to be to Lindley Creek of their new album Whispers within the Wind. There’s not a lot to the development of this piece – instrumentally talking, we’re a cut-and-dry efficiency that doesn’t attempt to fill the margins with lots of fanciful nonsense. To me, it seems that Lindley Creek got here with as potent a blueprint for making beat-forward roots music as a bunch can muster with out inviting lots of further improv into the combo. From right here,

“Each Time a Practice Goes By” delivers a contact of Americana fused with conventional people indulgence, solely to show us over to a way more metallic tackle “Summer time is within the Air Once more” than I’ve heard prior to now.    “Too Unhealthy You’re No Good” sounds a lot fuller on this association than I’d have ever anticipated it to, and as a retro people piece, it’s most likely probably the most formidable of all of the tracks right here. This isn’t to say that “Breathe” and “I’m Nonetheless Right here” lack guts – fairly the other is true – however as an alternative to acknowledge how amazingly properly Lindley Creek tackles a near-impossible process of creating a easy tune sound like a contemporary people juggernaut. There’s extra of a sway to the rhythm of “Empty” than was seemingly wanted given the pushiness of the strings, to start with, however within the grander scheme of issues, it solely makes the vitality within the midsection of Whispers within the Wind all of the stronger.   

“Empty” and “Fare Thee Effectively” really feel like reverse sides of the identical aesthetical coin, however they don’t camp on melodicism simply to emphasise distinction. That’s been an unlucky characteristic I’ve present in lots of new people data this yr, however it’s lacking from the whole thing of Whispers within the Wind; Lindley Creek neither desires it nor wants it to make a degree clear to the viewers. Even a cavalier, tone-oriented quantity like “Glad Thoughts” can spellbind us with out having to lean on the predictable neon harmonies that usually adorn materials of this type, and I don’t see this band ever needing to deviate from this route of their future recordings. 

One other angelic providing within the type of “If this Highway Might Speak” presses us with bittersweet harmonies forward of Whispers within the Wind’s conclusion in “We All Want Grace,” and when the tracklist has screeched to a halt, there’s a robust temptation to revisit the content material we’ve simply listened to if for no different motive than to relive the chills it could possibly induce. Lindley Creek didn’t overthink each shred of fabric on this album, however they current it with gusto like no different act probably may have this season. Their type is simple whereas their ongoing potential is prone to be one thing critics from one coast to the opposite are speaking about in 2023, and in case you’re curious whether or not or not Whispers within the Wind is definitely worth the hype, I encourage you to listen to it and choose for your self. 

Mindy McCall