Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kendl Winter weaves a warm blend of old-time country and bluegrass influences with an indie-folk sensibility on The Mechanics of Hovering Flight. This is Winter’s fifth release but the first recorded with an outside producer, and sonically it’s a step up from her previous releases. Calvin Johnson—the musician and founder of K Records—is a sympathetic engineer, achieving a rich sound quality without sacrificing the organic, homespun feel of Winter’s music. She’s in full command of her quirky yet confident storytelling voice as her songwriting soars across these 13 tracks. Whether buoyant (“Summertime,” “Story My,” “Fill My Glass,” “Quit Your Job Joe”), sparse (“Faded,” “The Time It Takes”), or powerful and haunting (“Do You Leave the Light On”), her affecting voice and vivid lyrical imagery conveys wisdom, tenderness, melancholy, and joy. Accomplished on banjo, Dobro, and guitar, Winter is supported by a talented cast on bass, fiddle, cello, and drums, giving the album a dynamic, full-bodied feel.