145: The Westerlies - Paradise (ft. Sam Amidon)

Last we heard from The Westerlies, the Brooklyn based instrumental quartet were reinterpreting work from the likes of Sufjan collaborator Nico Muhly and the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw on 2023's shape-shifting Move LP.

Now, the brass quartet (two trumpets, two trombones) are back with a brand new collection of their own, and their introducing things in far neater style; its first single a gorgeous dose of laidback goodness with guest vocals from the always-compelling folk songwriter Sam Amidon.

The album's title-track, 'Paradise' is three-and-a-half minutes of gentle, occasionally playful sound upon which Amidon's signature voice drifts above and within, as the whole thing swells like some great story told to a captive crowd of onlookers. The meeting of these two worlds does indeed infuse the whole thing with a sense of adventure, one that glows and fades, shrinks and bursts forward.

You get the sense it could have lingered on for far longer than it actually does, expanding into each nook and cranny, however the restraint surrounding it offers shiny intrigue and, as a first taste of greater things to come, that's all it really needs to do. It's a fascinating meeting; and you can listen now ahead of the album's June 13 release.

Pre-order the Paradise LP via Bandcamp here

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