Angelo De Augustine

There are signposts that one can see within the misty sound of these 11 songs—the fingerpicked guitar work of Nick Drake, the openhearted lyrics and singed falsetto of Elliott Smith, the haunted sonics of Lou Barlow’s early solo recordings—but De Augustine proves to be far more than the sum of those parts. He is a keen arranger, adding little touches (the ghostly piano on “Old Hope,” the light drones of “It’s A Life,” the little stabs of muted guitar on “How Past Begins”) and knowing just when to double up a guitar or vocal part for maximum impact. The shimmery hiss of the analog reel-to-reel machine only adds to the truth and spirit of this singular work.

From its quaintly hand-drawn artwork to the delicately rendered music found within, Spirals of Silence feels like each disc was constructed for the listener alone, as unique and heartfelt as a thoughtfully compiled mixtape or a letter written in longhand. These are the gifts that we will remember.

Performed, Recorded, & Mixed at home by Angelo De Augustine. Mastered by Mark Peteritas