Scott Hirsch – Windless Day

Scott Hirsch’s magical new album, Windless Day, is out today on his own Echo Magic label.

Recorded mostly at Scott’s studio of the same name in the flourishing wilds of Ojai, a place (I imagine) to be filled with the spirits of the former owners of the vintage instruments and gear that give Scott’s music such a classic, polished vibe.

“Much Too Late” has all the effortless groove and ease of a JJ Cale song, complete with a delicious guitar line, adorned with subtle chimes to make the whole thing shine. Similarly, you would almost swear that “Big Passenger” was a hidden Cale track, sight unseen. All of the coolness – JJ would approve.

“Dreamer” is a standout, reminiscent of a Ronnie Lane ballad with lush orchestration and Kelly McFarling’s chill-inducing harmonies filling out the spaces. It’s a masterpiece of a song (and you can watch a live in-studio performance here).

“Redstone” burns with a subtle intensity, an instrumental interlude paving away from the funk of “Night People,” a song guaranteed to get folks movin’ again after being awestruck with the previous songs’ loveliness.

“Wolves” wanders further from the cosmic territory into the country, with call-and-response gospel harmonies and reverberating pedal steel riffs that combine classicalism and innovation.

“Drummer of Shiloh”, a gorgeous instrumental track featuring very minimal synth and tapes adding atmosphere to Ryan Gustafson of the Dead Tongues; wandering dobro playing creates breathing room before the album’s finale “Love is Long” guides us gently on our way.

The overall sonic texture and smoothness of the album is unsurprising but still astounding. Somehow, Scott’s albums are always shrouded in a dreamy haze, but also crystal-clear. Lyrically, Scott is a master of using vivid imagery and romance without ever becoming cheesy or cliché. The magic is in his exceptional production quality, his trust in the musicians he selects to work with him, and his understated but simultaneously maximalist approach. Nothing is heavy-handed, although each track is layered and multifaceted. You have to pay attention – it’s beautiful enough to listen to passively, but focus and you’ll notice the complexity and brilliance of each gem of a song.

Buy Windless Day on Bandcamp.