On Geist, spirit in German, Shannon Lay has made an album that feels right, ripe, and timeless.
The Geist Bandcamp page explains:
Lay tracked vocals and guitar at Jarvis Tavinere of Woods’s studio, then sent the songs out to multi-instrumentalists Ben Boye (Bonnie Prince Billy, Ty Segall) in Los Angeles and Devin Hoff (Sharon Van Etten, Cibo Matto) in New York; trusting their musical instincts and intuition. She then sent those recordings to Sofia Arreguin (Wand) and Aaron Otheim (Heatwarmer, Mega Bog) for additional keys, while Ty Segall contributed a guitar solo on “Shores.”
But this record feels like it was recorded live in one take, as fresh as morning dew on dry leaves. Shannon Lay — her guitar, vocals, and lyrics — are the center of attention and thankfully so as she has much to share. I suppose its easy to call this folk music, singer-songwriter stuff, which translates into seemingly simple music where words are meant to be heard.
…the title track “Geist,” a song about the power living in all of us, is a love song to the possibility of healing, an ode to falling into the arms of what you’re becoming. It’s a glimpse into the parts of yourself you have yet to meet.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for the me I haven’t met, and music is among the best guides I know of to lead the way.
