Evan Wright’s debut album Sound From Out the Window, released via Solitaire Recordings on August 25 and streaming on Ears to Feed today, is a versatile pastiche of alternative country blended with indie psychedelia. Recorded, mixed, performed, produced by Wright, the New York-based songwriter creates a “self-contained world, both nostalgic and stressed out, and a personal and deeply compelling work that continually reveals itself with each listen,” as noted in his artist biography. He explores the transient nature of friendships and the surprises that often tag along with those changes. Nestled in the veins of Andy Shauf, Kurt Vile and even Alex G, Wright makes noise that quietly drops over final scenes of a movie; a character walks off alone, either triumphant or defeated. But more importantly, they take ownership in their presence.
Recorded partially in Wright’s New York apartment before COVID, he spent time in his parents barn in New Jersey for quarantine. The shifted environment invited Wright to explore his creativity. He obsessed over manipulating sounds using cassettes as well as re-amping a lot of instruments, including his voice. It resulted in an atmospheric blend of subtle bits and pieces collaged to build intricate dreamscapes each track involves.
The most lauded track on the album, “Turn the Other Way,” packs a steady drum machine beat strong with synth leads and a warped back curtain of instrumentals melting around Wright’s vocals. He sings, “Why do people change / Why do people go / Turn the other way / Learn to let it go,” detailing a seesawed reality of friendships that wash and wane. It’s like the feeling of being absorbed into a whirlpool that never actually ends.
Closing track “Ride” maintains clean acoustic guitar and overall, simple instrumental composition. Written quickly on a trip to Florida with guitars recorded to cassette on a four-track in Wright’s apartment, the song evolved into a quiet, soothing amalgamation of what Wright was able to withhold. Though by midpoint, Wright starts singing “Gonna ride away / To Another Day” piecing together suspense with synth and guitars easing in slowly. Wright, whispering, sings with restored confidence absent from other songs on the album, informing the listener that there’s something more coming.