Joshua Burkett - Life Less Lost
(Spirit of Orr)
Yeah, yeah, you already know that the "free folk" (or whatever) scene is growing quicker every day. But in the interest of giving credit where it's due, Spirit of Orr have reissued the second album from Joshua Burkett. His presence has been an important piece of the Massachusetts scene for years, but his last album, Gold Cosmos, was released just a little bit before people really started paying attention, so it too fell under the radar. Hopefully this reissue will change all of that.
Originally released in 1998, this record was clearly years ahead of its time, as it sounds like it could have been recorded last year. Or, perhaps it's way behind the times—Joshua gently coaxes understated folk gems, ragas, and back-porch wanderings from a motley assortment of acoustic instruments. Songs of this sort and his ever-present textures make this an archetype of the "free folk" vibe.
"Winter Together" and "Stupid Hope" are standout tracks. On them, Joshua's vocals croon their way through clouds of reverb, softly picked acoustic guitar, and a distant flute. These wouldn't be out of place alongside any of P.G. Six's solo work. A couple of weirder tracks, "Guidance from Vernon, FL" and "Losing It," ease off of the folk song motif and juxtapose fractured musical backgrounds and tapes of two people speaking.
While Joshua's follow up to this, Gold Cosmos, is also a spectacular record, I find Life Less Lost to have a simple clarity that makes it a much more enjoyable listen.
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