For fans of… Elliott Smith, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew BirdChalk aka
Steven Stride has released his self-titled debut album
Chalk this week via
Sonic Anhedonic Recording Co. The album is a wonderfully introspective journey that is fully stripped back, just a man, his thoughts and his guitar.
The second free track from the album – ‘Next To Useless’ – is available to download now via Soundcloud.
‘In Your Suit’ is also available to download now via the ABoF Soundcloud page.
You can also watch the video for ‘In Your Suit’ via YouTube.
You can also watch Steven perform ‘All These Things’ on YouTube.
Beginning the album with ‘No Ones Listening’, the music sounds almost optimistic despite the lyrics: “Got all this stuff to scream but nothing’s coming out, got lost in thoughts that once I was about…” With ‘Stinted Verse’, you can definitely hear Steven’s influences breaking through, it’s a little
Scott Matthews in places with the atmosphere that’s built throughout. However, Stride’s influences break far beyond the typical singer songwriter leanings you hear on first listen. The guitar and vocals heard on ‘Why Do We Have To Get Along’ sound like a stripped back version of American bands like
Cursive and
The Paper Chase. Steven manages to combine his more alternative influences with a sound that isn’t dissimilar to
Graham Coxon‘s debut solo album
The Sky Is Too High. Chalk’s debut album is a highly accomplished effort, it’s a personal journey that brings highs and lows and will leave you feeling hopeful.
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