Bay Area songwriter releases fascinating, alluring collection of songs
Nyles Lannon sounds like the kind of guy you wouldn’t want to mess with. Forget the rather obvious Elliott Smith comparisons; do away with the ‘folktronica’ labeling and, please, stop fixating on the idyllic Nick Drake posturing in the press photographs: Anyone who is willing to take 11 pop songs as pretty as these and submerge them so far into the ether is either a genius or a sociopath. Pressure gently sucks you straight into Lannon’s universe, his pastoral voice billowing under soft blankets of acoustic guitar and drum machine. In the distance, stoned-sounding choirs of multi-tracked background vocals and analog keyboard swells beckon; you’re getting… sleepy. But listen closely, and watch out. Songs like “Slipping” and “The Well-Groomed Man” are full of enough lyrical daggers and soft punches to slay a dragon, not to mention little ol’ you.