Mutual Benefit, Love’s Crushing Diamond

Mutual Benefit

Love’s Crushing Diamond

Reviewed by: Sebastian Mackay

All of the best aspects of folk have been blended together into a dreamy, watery pop fusion and it works a lot better than you’d think. The record is clearly a collection of years of work playing small venues by a man, Jordan Lee, who has a penchant for indie (the album was originally slated for cassette only release) and knows how to create intimacy.

The album, from it’s opener “Strong River” to the closer “Strong Swimmer”, is a delicate balance of gentle soundscape mapped out with soft, airy vocals. “Advanced Falconry” comes too close to being atmospheric with the spaces in the music playing as big a role as the instrumentation itself. Love’s Crushing Diamond isn’t an album so much as it is an environment. It begs to be listened to with a good set of headphones, in the dark, and completely experienced second for second.

“C.L. Rosarian” is beautiful in its simplicity and the lyrics, as with the rest of the album, are vivd and paired with Lee’s enchanting vocals, it truly is as delicate as a breath. Rounding off with “Strong Swimmer”, the album ends as well as it as it begins.  Each song moves onto the next with great effect and “Strong Swimmer” acts very much like a final stance that’ll hook you in to hitting repeat.

Rating: Bad-Ass