Albert, the new duo featuring Reid Morrison and Laurie Sherman from the celebrated London country-soul band Treetop Flyers, released its debut album, Time Well Spent, via Tejas Music last summer. Echodelick Records has re-issued the record on vinyl, and The Third Eye is digging into the sweet country-folk sounds.
Time Well Spent is a treasure trove of soulful folk-rock, featuring standout tracks like “Let Love Win,” which glides on a smooth ’70s West Coast groove and showcases guest vocals from Devin Tuel of Native Harrow.
“Wild Swimming” offers a blissful escape into the haze of a summer day trip, while “Mona” immerses you in a melancholic tale of lost love, all bathed in the warm glow of the golden hour. Open the curtains, turn the record on, and let the light come in.
During the pandemic, Reid and Laurie dedicated themselves to a weekly studio ritual, channeling their creativity into new ideas. Ostensibly, this is where the album title comes from – their time in the studio was “time well spent.”
Inspired by a relaxed musical ethos and influenced by contemporary artists like Sylvie, Drugdealer, Charles Watson, Reverend Baron, Kevin Morby, and Spencer Cullum Jr., as well as classics from JJ Cale, Van Morrison, Fairport Convention, and George Harrison, they set out to craft their own unique sound.
Initially, the duo handled all the instrumentation for their demos, gradually shaping their sound. They enlisted the help of friends Dom Brider and Charles Watson (Surfing Magazines), Devin Tuel (Native Harrow), and Charlie Higgs (Jessica’s Brother) to bring their recordings to life.
Reid and Laurie meticulously wrote and recorded the album, which Laurie mixed at their North London studio, The Cube, and Timothy Stollenwerk mastered in Portland. The result is a velvety, smooth collection of seven easy-listening tracks that slink through the spaces between ‘70s soul and cosmic folk. The music is soft, inviting, and cozy as the illustrated feline on the album cover.
With its reissue on vinyl, Time Well Spent offers fans and newcomers alike (like The Third Eye) a fresh opportunity to immerse themselves in Albert’s exquisite sounds. As the duo’s debut album continues to captivate and radiate its warm glow, Reid and Laurie’s exploration with the new musical duo is, hopefully, just beginning.
Check out Time Well Spent by Albert on Bandcamp here.
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