Elliott Smith - Angeles
Almost 9 years after his untimely passing, Elliott Smith’s music still maintains a haunting beauty. My favourite track from the hushed songwriter would be 1997’s Angeles.
The thinly veiled tension in this song might be a reflection on Elliott’s well publicized self-loathing destructive nature, or a depiction of the grimier side of Los Angeles - or both. Whatever your interpretation, it is evident that Elliott’s career was cut short by his alcoholism and drug use. The exact circumstances surrounding his passing is still a matter of debate, but regardless, his music lives on and captures the personal and introspective struggle of an artist at odds with himself - a tragic hero whose talents ended up being as much an affliction as a blessing.
R.I.P. Elliott.
Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Atlas Hands
At the tender age of 20, BFL wrote and recorded Atlas Hands. The British youngster is a self-confessed fan of Nick Drake, Elliott Smith and Bob Dylan and some of these influences can be heard in Leftwich.
His debut album Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm has a wintery feel to it with the gentle crooning providing the warmth to the album. On the LP, a violin also accompanies Leftwich’s acoustic guitar on several tracks and there is a genuine authenticity and honesty to the recording process with virtually no production effects. In other words, the album could be replicated live at a show.
Enjoy Atlas Hands.
