Jose Gonzalez - Local Valley (Translucent Green Vinyl)

Since his debut single 'Crosses' back in 2003, both he and his music have remained dependably quiet and unassuming. 'Local Valley' calmly exhibits his singular ability to communicate with such modesty and power. Beginning with the sun-dappled 'El Invento', the first song he's recorded in Spanish (the native tongue of his Argentinian heritage), and ending with the intimate yet rhapsodic 'Honey Honey'. Along the way it engages in his signature melodic and metrical hypnotism, showcasing his remarkable fingerpicking skills, while there's further evidence of his love for music from around the world (he references an inspiring jam session in Gothenburg with Niger artist Bombino) and for the first time, the introduction of a drum machine on a few songs, further widening José´s musical spectrum.