Half Shadow is Portland, Oregon songwriter and accomplished multi-instrumentalist Jesse Carsten's exotic folk project. Lined with hand percussion and smooth guitars, his voice glides over lean chord changes and rockin' bass. The production is really robust and clear, with the sound of the outdoors edging through each track. The lyrics are complex and bold. "At Home With My Candles" is definitely a unique twist on modern folk.
"Moonless Unmoored" has some complex neo-classical folk inspired guitar playing. "Song for the Garden" has a catchy refrain where Carsten sings in call and response with himself. Throughout the album the drumming is really clever and surprisingly also played by Carsten. "I Practice Dying (in the Spare Room)" is a samba with really cool keyboards and smooth saxophone by Zach Burba. The album sees a lot of hand percussion action; a nice element.
For fans of smooth folk with complex instrumentation with a "world music" twist or a futuristic CSNY.
