Nathan Holscher sounds like what would happen if Dire Straits lost an arm wrestling match to Townes Van Zandt.

10 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Americana, COUNTRY: Country Folk



Details:
Biography
Nathan sounds like what would happen if Dire Straits lost an arm wrestling match to Townes Van Zandt. Unlikely perhaps, but so is a style steeped in frequent rambles across the landscapes of both the Midwest and Southwest. Chasing trout in small streams or the muse in a dingy bar, Nathan writes songs that somehow reflect both compassion and restlessness. At 25, his few adult years have been spent crafting songs and working to conserve the rivers and streams that he grew up on. In 2004, Nathan recorded Pray for Rain, which made small ripples in Europe, a smattering of âbest of 2004â lists, and received some independent airplay in the U.S.

Even the Hills
Even the Hills uses simple patterns as a roadmap, exploring loss, restlessness, and some lighter themes in its wake. Grammy-Nominee Ric Hordinski (Over-the-Rhine, David Wilcox) brings his skills as producer and instrumentalist to the record, which was recorded at his studio in Cincinnati over a week in April â07. âRic understands textures so well, how to use them without going overboard. You bring a banjo or a pedal steel to some people, and pretty soon you have an alt-country train wreck on your hands. Ric was able to interweave many sounds leaving each song with added depth and a simple, stripped down feel. Polished, but with an edge, thatâs my style and Ric captured it well.â

A talented group of seasoned musicians, including Tasha Golden of Ellery (backing vocals), Kenny Hollycross (pedal steel), Josh Seurkamp (drums) and Joe Bolinger (banjo) provided an accompaniment that was sometimes subtle, sometimes striking, but always focused. Each song leaves its own mark, but a few words on certain standouts:

Hard, High and Blue- âSometimes we donât feel settled. Sometimes there are reasons to drive from Juarez to Albuerque.â- Nathan Lyrics: âThereâs a road for everyone/And some they go astray/When Juarez brought me blood to bleed/I choked it down like chicken feed/Played the role of friend in need/And cursed the light of day.â

Even the Hills- A song written from the perspective of an aging widow.

Locust- The chorus: âWhen the breeze becomes the wind/And the color goes again/And the lies are all thatâs left/ I will love you yet.â

My Sweet- âAfter the first cup of coffee things look better, even for a person who has made a series of bad decisions.â- Nathan

Pretty Words- âOur protagonist in that one got racked with the âbig D,â I think.â âNathan

-Susan Knight, July 20, 2007