Kemper Norton - Toll - CD (2016)

Labels: Front & Follow
Review by: Captain Fidanza

Whereas I described Kemper Norton’s previous release as “nightmare ambient folk,” I’m almost tempted to describe this one as “daymare ambient folk,” because it would appear very much as though the clouds have finally broken above the isolated, windswept, rain-drenched island upon which Kemper lives and works and though it would be daft to assume the sun had come out completely, the edges of the clouds are looking distinctly silver-lined.

Twelve tracks of various sounds, the like of which nobody living anywhere other than the isolated island on which they were recorded are likely ever to have heard before. The gentle warmth of the artists’ voice makes the experience a not entirely jarring one and an apparent embrace of nostalgia means there is much that lingers in the mind once the album has drifted to a close. Great stuff.