Phases & Stages

Lord Huron

After two celebrated EPs in 2010 and silence ever since, Los Angeles' Lord Huron based its sepia-toned debut LP, Lonesome Dreams, on a fictional book of the same name by nonexistent author George Ranger Johnson. Ben Schneider opens himself up to collaboration, even recording with a band, but his songwriting still merits a singular interface with the listener. Wielding African drums, acoustic guitar, and choral arrangements for a church choir, Schneider reins in and polishes his sound just enough, yet knows the precise moment to let it return to wandering. "Time To Run" begins with sparse vocal reverb that builds to a release of jangled, bright guitar and a trotting beat. "She Lit a Fire" captures the romantic notions of both nature and unrequited love that carry through the album, set to campfire strums and melodic harmonies. "Brother" could easily fit on 2010's Mighty EP, mashing calypso influences and American folk into a fraternal tribute.