Don't let the name fool you;
singer/songwriter
Jose Gonzalez
is a Swedish-born and -raised son of Argentine parents. His debut album,
Veneer
, is a striking collection of hushed and autumnal
indie pop
bedroom songs that reside on the hi-fi end of the
lo-fi
spectrum.
Gonzalez
is definitely a member of the "quiet is the new loud" school as founded by
Elliott Smith
and
the Kings of Convenience
.
is about as intimate as they come; it sounds like he is sitting right on the end of your bed singing just for you. At times,
is a little more forceful than most of his schoolmates, often working himself into a tightly spinning ball of emotion (as on the driving
"Lovestain"
and the bluesy
"Hints"
). At these moments his voice is reminiscent of
Mark Kozelek
, only without the wild flights of pretension. Mostly though, he is content to cruise along on mellow vocals double-tracked behind gently plucked and strummed acoustic guitars. The beautiful
"Heartbeats,"
"Deadweight on Velveteen,"
and the gently rollicking
"Stay in the Shade"
are the high watermarks of a remarkably focused and promising debut.
is a welcome addition to the q-school of
. ~ Tim Sendra