Newcomer, 26-year-old singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen’s music has all the makings of becoming better with age. His eloquent easing into a lyric, the composure of his playing and all-round presence focused on mood and tone prompts me to suggest fans of John Fullbright would be well advised to check him out. Not that he is another John Fullbright but on occasions comparisons are to be drawn, as he ponders meticulously in poetic fashion over his songs. As on tempting, wistful ballad “Silver Bracelet” as both a great beauty and simple poetic charm takes over the song.
Gundersen is someone who becomes involved; totally with the music among those to display this best you have the likes of “I Need A Woman” and “Selfish Art”. Supported by a band which includes his sister, Abby and brother Jonathan his band plays a big part in shaping a sound to perfect his sensitive deeply carved out lyrics, as on “Show Me The Light” as he pokes and prods one’s emotions with a melody vying between sensitive and urgent as he pleads to be shown the way.
This is a theme that has troubled him for some time, but now he realises some things are best accepted as they are as he searches out how he should live, and of how people are shaped by circumstance and daily involvement of everyday life.
More change in tempo and use of instrumentation in general is needed to awake the real beauty of his voice, and lyrics. More songs like the restless “Jealous Love” as a greater urgency accompanies his impassioned plea as he looks for love and for that matter a little more of what is on offer on the opening track split-tempo composition “Slow Dancer”. Recorded in Seattle, Gundersen is surrounded by fine players in his sister, Abby Gundersen (violin, cello, harmony vocals) and brother, Jonathan Gundersen (drums) plus Micah Simler (bass), Jon Solo (piano, mellotron) with Noah on guitar, piano and Juno 60 the instrumental side is well covered.
If only a couple or so songs didn’t drag their heels this would be a collection I would return to more often to play it in its entirety, a few more like “Topless Dancer” and above noted “Jealous Love” and I dare say “I Need A Woman” and he would be made. There are only so many slow methodical peaceful songs one can take at one sitting, regardless of how beautiful the arrangements and quality of his voice.
Maurice Hope