Gilbert Lee

On his second album, Maryland singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Gilbert Lee has created a piece full of sincerity and heart. With Magic Through the Static, Lee crafts an enthralling aura by adorning his auspicious songwriting with horns, banjo, a myriad of percussion and a healthy dose of lush reverb on it all. The songs that emerge are inviting and enchanting, warming the soul. His lyrics tie to a collective appreciation of the luxury of innocence and its resulting optimism.

The effusive opener 'Colored by the Stars' captures this innocence with a running, bounding energy. The building excitement of the crescendoing eighth note intro adds to the giddy thrill of the opening line “Run, run, run like a young boy trippin' out the back door”. A crystal clear slide guitar glides across the track like shooting stars in a summer sky. Horns chime in giving it a feel like Beirut if they weren't quite so down in the dumps.

The lead single 'Dial Me Up' has all the touchstones of light, bouncy indie ear candy. Finger snaps: Check. Signature whooping synth: Check. Sing-along chorus with tambourine hits: Check. Light backing strings: Check. Whistle solo: Check! The third track, 'Buzzing in Your Stereo' is probably the most destined for widespread success. It's intertwining banjo and slide guitar and tambourine-led rhythm section conjure a very specific feeling. Add a sweetly hummable chorus about going home over a steady shuffle and you've got a bona fide hit in the realm of The Lumineers.

The latter half of the album though less overtly single-driven is no less hummable and adds a layer of atmospherics and depth that make it more enthralling than the first half. 'The Ghost on the Radio' takes on a more subdued gypsy feel over a laid-back beat. Arguably, the standout track of the album is 'All Connections Go' with Lee exposing his vocals at their most soulful. He gives a wistful yet accepting thought to the coming and going of people in our lives. His voice and the slide guitar fade off into the ether in the spirit of the song's ethos. 'The Simple Present' features saxophone gliding over a choppy beat and yet another hooky chorus. The closer 'Carnival Soul' is an after-hours jam, more sparing with lyrics, allowing the horns and gorgeous, tasteful slide guitar to play out over the hand drum mantra.

With Magic Through the Static, Lee has hit the mark with a beautifully-produced indie pop album that proudly proclaims; “Yes! I like to feel warm and fuzzy!”. Whether looking at the dizzying highs, remembering past transgressions or letting go of people you met along the way, Lee sees it all through rose-tinted glasses. Or perhaps sepia...