Small Sur is a Baltimore, MD three-piece headed by Bob Keal, whose vocal cadence fits in nicely with genre-mates Will Oldham and Mark Kozelek. Musically, Small Sur takes some cues from Kozelek, melding the more folk-oriented vibe of Sun Kil Moon with the slowcore down-tempo of Red House Painters. With contributions from members of fellow Baltimoreans Lower Dens and Wye Oak, the band’s new album Tones is introspective, image-driven, and mesmerizing. On slow-burner “The Woods,” Keal sings longingly “In The Woods/I will find what I seek/ Build a home there beneath the canopy.” The aptly titled Tones does just that, sets a tone by inducing a deep sense of meditation. These songs are measured, deceptively sparse, yet adorned with layers of richness. Elsewhere, Keal pulls off Japanese Haiku structure on “Three Haiku” without ever coming off as kitschy. He pays tribute to his homestate on “South Dakota” without sounding forcibly nostalgic. Along with reliable folk instrumentation such as acoustic guitars and pedal steel, Tones is speckled with deftly placed alto-sax that adds a touch of elegance to the material. Tones may not be a boastful affair, but those willing to listen with due diligence will be rewarded by its subtle yet spellbinding charm. — Capt. Obvious

Listen:

The Woods.mp3

Prettyboy.mp3