Country Sleep

Country Sleep

Starting with the a cappella opener “Faithful Heights,” it’s clear that Winston Yellen—the creative force behind Night Beds—is a rare breed of singer. Fittingly, the whole album revolves around his emotive, acrobatic vocals. His range recalls Jeff Buckley, with a bit of Rufus Wainwright’s styling mixed in. The folk-rock strummer “Ramona” is notable for its energetic delivery, but most of the songs here are spare emotional tales of love and heartbreak set to delicate strings, piano, light drumming, and acoustic guitar. The songwriting is consistently strong, if sentimental at times, and the earnest vocals get the tunes across with a graceful and effortless ease. Standouts like “Borrowed Time” and “Cherry Blossoms” are made for a stormy night or a drive along a lonely stretch of highway. Captivating and sublime, this is a memorable debut full-length from a talented young artist to watch.

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