Benoît Pioulard: Lasted (Kranky)

Portland musician Thomas Meluch reclaims his identity as free-folk pioneer Benoît Pioulard with yet another album that splits the difference between well-crafted folk tunes and textural ambience. True to his previous repertoire, Lasted consists of fourteen shorter tracks that veer sideways between delicate vocal songs and instrumental interludes and tone poems. The aesthetic is spacious and warm, never sounding so lo-fi as to undermine the integrity of Meluch’s craft. Highlights include the gorgeous title cut that falls dead center in the playlist, the unusual chord sequence of “RTO,” and the supreme ambience of closer “Nod,” aptly named as it lulls you away from the consciousness of Lasted.

Watch/listen: A Coin on the Tongue

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