A compelling Americana warmness emanates throughout Milk River, the debut album from Oklahoma City-based singer/songwriter Luke Rountree.
Twangy guitars and gentle organs meld with soaring vocal captivation on the opening “All We Ever,” a track that excels throughout with its melodic qualities. A dreamy piano-driven bridge compels at the track’s mid-point. “Do we know what’s a sin or what’s a saint?” the vocals ask, escalating with glistening captivation. Jangling guitars and dashes of synths compel on the ensuing “Love is a Word (Never Said Aloud),” another charmer whose title-referencing escalation glides beautifully into inviting guitar work.
The heartfelt “23” is representative of both Roundtree’s more folk-ready arsenal and tendency for satiating structural shifts. “You’re in the love with the scene,” Rountree sings into a gorgeous arsenal of twangy guitars, moving into a brighter jangly rock demeanor throughout the second half; the success is further exemplary of Rountree’s knack for cohesively dynamic tonal range and heartrending vocal escalations. Offering a strong range of Americana and folk, Milk River is a strongly memorable debut from Luke Rountree.
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“All We Ever” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
