SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEPHEN BECKER – A CALM THAT SHIFTS

Stephen Becker
A Calm That Shifts
NNA Tapes

Sometimes, artists hit it right on the nose when they come up with an album title, but often that is not the case, particularly when debut albums are concerned.

Yet, here is a debut album that does exactly that — A Calm That Shifts — by Brooklyn musician Stephen Becker.

Becker seems to come from that rare breed of artists that are able to combine seemingly disparate musical elements and make them sound as they belong together from the start. In this case, it is singer-songwriter concepts of Elliott Smith, chord-modulation of vocal harmony genius Brian Wilson, and jazzy variations of Donald Fagen and his last name namesake Walter Becker in their Steely Dan prime. Oh, and his lyrics are no slouch either.

Just on paper (or computer screen), it is quite a heady combination, but Becker manages it quite admirably and comes up with a debut album that literally shines with its every note. It might not come as a wonder as it took Becker and his childhood friend and producer Adam Hirsch to create this album that truly works.

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