Spine tingling
Since hearing Howard's James Kenny's fantastic single 'Insects' we've been eagerly anticipating his debut full length and it doesn't disappoint. "Shelter Songs" is beautiful, dramatic and spine tingling, he creates from guitar, synth and vocals an atmospheric and full sounding record. Opening track 'My Wrongs' begins with bird song and the sound of wind through trees, to these open, echoed noises picked guitar and Howard's effective, lovely vocals are gradually added until the track becomes an emotional, dreamy epic. Howard has been described as "a one man Sigur Ros" and you can hear why; those gradual builds and intimate but epic atmospherics are beautifully ethereal and can be quite moving.
'Good Fortune' is a study in looped sounds with repeated vocal and guitar lines underneath the track proving to be hypnotic and soothing and the touching and slightly melancholic 'This Old Ship' uses echoes on the picked guitar to great effect and then builds, post-rock style to a climax of crashing, distorted (but tuneful and controlled) noise. Howard's vocals continue to impress throughout the record, on 'Digits Point' which has a slightly darker feel; it soars above the melody and on 'Insects' which is one of the singles already released from the album and a stand out moment on the record the vocals are intense and dramatic.
This is a beautifully cohesive record, great to devour in one sitting and with very many stand out moments to recommend it; Howard James Kenny is a talent to be watched.