Gregory Alan Isakov - This Empty Northern Hemisphere (Suitcase Town Music)
“This Empty Northern Hemisphere” is rooted folk-Americana, nurtured by the toil of touring and a troubadour’s thousand dreams on the journey. There’s little here that’s new, but there is a lot of quality in these thirteen songs, their delivery, and the production; the songs run strong, and run deep. This is folk music raised in the wilds, where the days are sweated, and the nights bring innumerable stars. Don’t come to this album for a light listen or background music, because that’s not its purpose. You need to digest it whole, take in the sheer intensity that pervades from start to finish, and get the whole vista that’s conjured up before you.

He originally attended college in Colorado to study horticulture, but the nurturing of songs rather than plants became his passion, and that has born fruit in the form of this truly marvelous album. The music appears to have grown as Gregory himself has, rising up over the last decade to meet the challenges facing all singer-songwriters, and come good. Come very good indeed.

I can’t recommend a single song, but I can highly recommend thirteen of them. “This Empty Northern Hemisphere” is an absolute joy to listen to, but only when taken as a whole, so you’re filled to the brim with enchantment and wonder.
www.gregoryalanisakov.com

Next