When the Day Leaves

For over a decade, has operated under the banner, creating evocative indie folk-rock layered with rich sonic textures and compelling lyrics that dance between the human, natural, and spiritual worlds. A South Carolina native, 's project largely came to fruition while living in Seattle, where he earned his PhD in human geography. His most recent record, 2018's enchanting , was recorded in Portland with (aka ). Now back in Columbia, South Carolina, melds some of that album's spacious aesthetic with an earthy depth on , his fourth album. Set against a mix of fingerpicked acoustic and ruggedly distorted electric guitars, 's languid drawl details life in various states of change. Occasional adornments of flute and the dulcet harmonies of longtime collaborator help lift songs like "Branch I Bend" and the lovely "Mockingbird" up above the fog, while weightier cuts like "Instrument" and "On a Revelation" seem deeply rooted in the earth. Like most of 's other releases, feels like a single interconnected work full of stormy moods and thoughtful meditations. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of sonic variance, and despite the quality of his lyrics, the songs tend to run together in a long midtempo march of woodsy introspections. ~ Timothy Monger