Soft Pow'r (Little Wings, 2007)

[ak]

A great discovery, thanks to a tip from Will Oldham (records under the alias Bonnie "Prince" Billy). Little Wings is actually Kyle Field who has toured with my alt-folk-rock heroes M.Ward, Devendra Banhart and, yes, Will Oldham.

Their influence on his music is pervasive, but Field uses his strong songwriting to carve out his own niche. The tone on the aptly titled Soft Pow'r is chillingly close to Elliot Smith: mellow, elegant, ephemeral.

Standout tracks: "Gone Again," "Warming," "What Button?"

[fizz]

Did someone say Elliot Smith? Woah...

And, did you meet Oldham? Your mini review seems to indicate you guys smoke pot together (references to Old Joy).

[ak]

I've met him and talked to him. Pot was not involved.

Get this album, Fizz. It is a minor masterpiece.

[fizz]

Get this album, Fizz. It is a minor masterpiece.

I'm trying, but can't "find" the album....

[anonymous]

Field's been a pervasive songwriter since sometimes before and often along the same times as the more well known folky powers. Wickedly understated and bizarrely unknown, he's by far one of the most individual songwriters living today.