For the past 14 years, Elephant Micah's Joseph O'Connell has quietly self-released his music, sometimes collaborating with the psych-folk imprint Time-Lag Records or other very small labels. Despite the project's almost secretive status, Elephant Micah has repeatedly caught the attention of NPR, and has been championed by an impressive cohort of like-minded artists including Jason Molina, Hiss Golden Messenger, Dark Dark Dark, and Hurray for the Riff Raff.
C**6
Five Stars
one of my favorites of 2015 thus far.
T**F
Small Worlds and Big Magic
Joseph O'Connell is a singer/songwriter from Indiana who has a deep appetitefor the folklore of his native state. These eight beautiful songs are as pure asthe driven snow. In a time when The Listening World's hunger for Americanahas spawned a host of talented solo performers and ensembles Mr O'Connellcan give himself a big pat on the back for keeping his muse clean and simple.What a lovely voice he has! A warm, expressive and effortless tenor which inhabitshis compositions like a long lost friend. Uncomplicated, dependable and true.From the gorgeous shuffling arrangement and magical melody of opening track'By The Canal'; through the spare, drone-laden progress of 'Slow Time Vultures'and magical timelessness of 'Monarch Gardeners' haunting chord sequence; tothe fragile, tentative, almost spectral, conclusion captured in final number 'RareBeliefs', Mr O'Donnell takes his time and tells his stories with gentle conviction.The album is a small masterpiece in understatement we should all welcome to our door.Highly Recommended.
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