David Stith grew up in a musical household. His father and grandfather taught music on the collegiate level, his mother is a pianist, and his sisters sing opera. Astoundingly enough, he preferred writing and drawing to the chosen family art form – that is until he moved to Brooklyn and met Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond. The technical assistance he provided during the recording her album served as a gateway back into a world which he had neglected since childhood. He began feverishly writing folk songs and the result is Heavy Ghost, his debut album. To call it folk wouldn’t exactly be accurate. It’s rooted in folk, mostly in the prominent acoustic guitar. However, the sounds that Stith creates are downright bizarre, unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. The crashing pianos, spooky falsetto chanting, and off-kilter drum patterns combine to create something shockingly beautiful. In addition to being a talented musician, Stith is also a very talented singer – with a raw and painfully honest voice, beautifully arranged vocals, and deeply introspective lyrics.

But this is all the icing on the cake. Stith’s ability to combine sounds into a sort of post-modern tribal folk is what makes the album so enjoyable to listen to. Using everything from haunting organs to traditional choir arrangements illustrates his absorption of the musical techniques he was exposed to growing up. For a debut album from a relatively inexperienced musician to paint such a vivid and imaginative picture is astounding. It shows exactly what caliber of musical talent has been laying dormant for all these years.

RELATED POSTS:

No related posts.