SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LUCKY CLOUD – FOREGROUND

LUCKY CLOUD
FOREGROUND
RUINATION RECORDS

Behind Lucky Cloud is Chicago singer-songwriter Chet Zenor, and Foreground is his debut album. And as is usually the case, behind this quite simple description there is a not such a brief story behind it, nor does the music Zenor comes up with here simply fall within the usual description of singer-songwriter.

Zenor did gain a reputation as collaborator, improviser, and touring guitarist through his work with Squirrel Flower, Hannah Frances, Minor Moon, his own avant-country instrumental project Alta Vista, and many others. Yet, as is the case with any artist that has his own ideas and individuality, being just a collaborator for others is not enough, and luckily, Zenor’s decision to try it out on his own, with a serious set of collaborators of his own here is the right one.

The nine songs Zenor presents here are an intriguing mix of jazz infused Americana with elements picked up from wherever Zenor saw fit, with a touch of somebody who knows exactly what he is doing, and the results are no less than excellent.

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