Description
Frankie Lee releases the follow-up to his 2015 debut American Dreamer, and delivers an enchanting and beautiful set that rises to the challenge of matching the quality of the first.
Stillwater was recorded mostly live in Lee’s old homestead in Minnesota, a wood sided cottage in the town the album takes its name from. The disc breathes warmth and simplicity, and a sense of indolence that takes you on a trip to a place untouched by the hands of time. The tempo is slow and the music is spare, sometimes just a few piano chords and Frankie Lee’s tenor voice, sometimes a more rocking instrumentation, but always a tasteful dish. Most of the songs were cut live; Lee gathered a group of local musicians, and together they made music from morning ‘til evening over three days while living and eating in the revamped abode; most of what resulted was first or second takes.
Not only does Stillwater deliver the goods with style, but all nine musical reveries depicted in the record wind into a cohesive whole that exudes a unique and vivid artistic touch. And that’s a rare thing of beauty. A gorgeous album.
