Riley Armstrong brings both Jack Johnson and Mat Kearney to mind. Johnson for his gentle acoustic vibe and Kearney for the truths wrapped warmly in an understated package. Which is to say I liked “La Loop,” quite a bit.
Armstrong delivers music for the thoughtful listener, with a lot of organic rhythms and programmed looping that add texture and sonic charm. His soft vocals, and the playful tone highlighted on “Cassette Decks” and “Cell Phone,” are both soothing and entertaining, a la Johnson. What lifts “La Loop” above the standard fare is his intelligent lyrics, touching on subjects as disparate as faith (“Fall to Find You”), technology (the afore-mentioned odes to cell phones and cassette decks), and support (the friendly and encouraging “Birdhouse”). But that IS the magic of Riley Armstrong, and the quality that makes his music so rich and accessible: it’s all the same to him, as it should be. He isn’t being “spiritual” over here while talking about faith, and then “secular” over there in his discussion of technology. His music covers the wholeness of life, in an organic and often humorous way.
Standout tracks include the deeply romantic “Melting,” a melodic mid-tempo track enhanced by judicious use of warm strings and creative lyrics: “My watch is always set to your time/ my shoes are always ready and tied/ my heart points north longing/ for without you, I’m an ice cube melting.” The gratitude flows freely on the nicely nuanced “A Lot Can Happen in a Year,” the track most Kearney-like.
Riley Armstrong is flying below the radar, but track down “La Loop” from 7 Spin Music if you like your music warm, intuitive, and fresh.
