Sitting somewhere between Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens and Smashing Pumpkins, Ian Huschle’s new album ‘Had a Vision Once’ is delicate, smudgy and messy – packed with heart, warmth and is an absolute joy to listen to. It’s a deeply personal collection of tracks, close, like you’re rattling around in Ian’s mind whilst listening to these songs – I remember the first time I sat down and listened to the whole of Bon Iver’s ‘For Emma’ and how it completely pulled me out of the moment and into a state of reflective daydream. Listening to Ian Huschle’s new album is a similar experience.
Opening with the gentle ‘Little Prey’, a two minute little pipette of what’s to come, Ian introduces his soundscape of lightly strummed acoustics and subtle banjo over a field recording of a summer evening. Ian’s stylistic breathy, sometimes breaking vocals wash over you and set the tone for the collection of tracks to follow.
Followed up by the grungey single ‘Chores’, a track which could very easily appear on an album by Nirvana as much as it could Radiohead, Ian begins to demonstrate the full range of his ability to craft intriguing instrumentation and beautiful melancholic moods. Intertwining guitar lines, soft drums and dappled atmospherics surround Ian’s voice in a masterclass of soundscaping.
Elsewhere across the albums twelve tracks the new single ‘I Don’t Even Mind’ flexes its rich and warm guitar lines around it’s full band sound while little instrumental tracks like the guitar picked ‘Cria’ help build the albums wintery aura and add depth to the surrounding songs.
‘Face It 2’ and ‘Caving In 2’ bring more instruments into the fray with saxophones, pedal steel guitar and lightly plucked nylon strings that act to reinforce the essence of Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens which is prevalent across the album.
Small, boxy and beautiful this collection of tracks is truly something to be admired. Ian’s sound doesn’t need, nor should it have huge production. The small nature of the recordings is what gives it its charm. The DIY vibe which the album possesses is what makes the album feel so personal and so affecting.
It’s well worth clearing an hour, putting on some headphones and giving this album a listen, it’s a really stunning collection of tracks that as a whole is something even more. Listen below:
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