Been listening to Mill Pond’s Luke Temple with his second full length called “Snowbeast” for some time and Brooklyn based guitar/banjoist & songwriter straight away charmed me with his frail falsetto voice and exceptionally versatile songwriting I should say. Temple’s indie pop/folk has many elements of psychedelia and prog which moves “Snowbeast” apart from all the American guitar folk artists. It’s not as artistic/minimalistic as James Blackshaw or acoustic guitar based as say Iron & Wine. The right dosage of bittersweet pop mixed with layers upon layers of elements going on creating a multifaceted album with a subtle dose of electronics.

The opener “Saturday People“, for example sounds like an acid circus with 60’s psychpop vibes all over and a 3/4 waltz rhythm, which suddenly changes around 3:00 to some kind of afrobeat-folk variant. There’s so much going on in different layers but it’s never cacaphonic. It’s easy to get into for everyone, because you’ll get something in your first listen; but as you continue to do hopefully you’ll hear all the different elements and marvel at his mastery in crafting these songs. Like a good Simpsons episode! Another high point for me is that “Snowbeast” has continuity as an album there’s an unmistakable standard here through the album, thanks once again to producer & engineer Luke Temple!. One of the best for me in indiepop this year, believe me I’ve checked Devendra’s new one too! Bittersweet!

Private Shipwreck

Luke Temple – Where is Away
Luke Temple – Time Rolls a Hill
Luke Temple – Private Shipwreck
Luke Temple – Someone, Somewhere