How to write about music which exists outside of any one genre? Are the lines between genres even so clear these days? Those are valid questions, ones which are relevant when approaching the new album from The Vernon Spring.
The project of multi-instrumentatlist Sam Beste, The Vernon Spring on Under a Familiar Sun stride across soft jazz, fusion, ambient, and indie to serve up something with warmth and a distinctive boldness. Numbers like "Mustafa" ramble forward atop a rhythm made up of samples, and synth patterns, while the elegantly lovely "Other Tongues" uses vocals in spots to create a nice interplay between voice and piano. It's delicate in a way, and contemplative like the best moments on this record. "Fume" briefly nears a kind of trip hop vibe, while the simple "In the Middle" is thoughtful and full of sounds which are not unlike those found on the best Brian Eno or Daniel Lanois records.
The Vernon Spring are occuping a unique space on Under a Familiar Sun. This is clearly personal music for Sam Beste, and the material allows for a listener to get kind of lost in the tunes, such as they are. What makes this worth some time is that this is really beautiful in spots (closer "Known" is just gorgeous as hell). Nearly ambient in the best way, Sam Beste has found a way to imbue that kind of spaciousness with real heart.
Under a Familiar Sun by The Vernon Spring is out now. Details below.
[Photo: Saoirse Fitzpatrick