Colton McKenna - Unnamed Seeds (Independent)
First things first, Colton McKenna’s got a great voice. His chosen genre, American folk-rock, is wholly transcended by his rich, sweet vocal, and his songs take on extra emotional depth simply because of the opulent timbre with which they’re sung. To be perfectly frank, if McKenna sang the phone book, I’d still be sorely tempted to purchase the first half dozen volumes. The fact that his songs are almost as good as his voice is a considerable bonus.

Live, he’s built a reputation as an accomplished performer, organically building loops and developing a sound that is full and varied. On record he’s just as impressive, rejecting the limitations of one man and his guitar, instead “Unnamed Seeds” rejoices in its layered production and the sort of full-on folk presentation found on classic John Martyn recordings.

It’s not a particularly long record, just seven tracks, but it’s all killer and no filler. If forced to choose highlights, then I’m happy to go for the gentle stutter of “Tied Up” or “Nesta” with its subtle reggae lilt. Ideally, it’s best to hear the whole thing. Did I mention his voice…
www.myspace.com/coltonmckenna

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