Album Review: Somewhere Not Far From Here by Luke Gard
Review by Angelina Singer
Nashville-based songwriter and musician Luke Gard just released his newest album, Somewhere Not Far From Here. A bright and sunny indie folk departure from his previous foray into three previous acoustic albums, his vision for this album was to bring listeners on an emotional and growth-oriented journey towards hope after heartbreak – and everything else in between. With sensibilities likened to greats like John Mayer or Phil Collins, there’s something incredibly cozy and nostalgic about the ambience created by the songs on this album produced by Evan Galante and mastered by Joe Causey.
The album opens with the song “Cloud of November” – and I loved the way Luke Gard takes a dark and depressing time of year and makes it not only more accessible – but also quite a bit more livable. The song comments on the accompanying headspace struggles that occur this time of year, and the easy-to-hum motifs make even the first listen or two of this song feel like an old favorite right out of the gate. With plenty of space to let the listener sink into the music alongside insightful lyrics like “rhythms and rhymes searching for a song”, this song is a beautiful and calming moment in time.
In the second track “Mockingbird”, I distinctly remember thinking of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young as a potential similarity – a timeless style filled with the warmth from subtle guitar articulations and soft sonic layers you can curl up in. I love the repeated motif of “a siren song from a Mockingbird” – perhaps the foreboding idea that even something appearing innocuous can cause trouble if you’re not careful sometimes. This song functions as a great passage from the previous song that also leads nicely into the rest of the album. I always appreciate when an album is cohesive without being stale or repetitive – and this one effortlessly strikes that perfect balance.
“Ashes and Wounds” has a little more darkness to it via a haunting piano riff that bounces off the more familiar and home-y guitar strums. Challenging the interplay of the passage of time, this song is thought-provoking and pure – a tantalizing treat for anyone finding themselves stagnant in life and hoping for a next move to surface. “Swirling words and reckless words erased from the page but not without their debts” are incredibly poetic lyrics that jump out from the mix — and for good reason, because they’re just the kind of thing that the artist probably hopes will stay with the listener long after the song concludes. I find this to be the most relatable song for me in the album — but there are so many incredible gems here, so you might find yourself connecting with a different one altogether.
“Down the Line” has a lot of beautiful fire and warmth imagery, with another cohesive, droning string section connecting it to the rest of the album. It presents the infamous instability of love and the discomforts that follow it — even if the song itself is a warm hug. Moving on to the first single released for this album, “Timbuktu”, listeners will find themselves enveloped in a slower, more relaxed setting. This is a mellow, more stripped-down song with basically just acoustic guitar and some subtle strings in the background. The theme is about keeping people at arm’s length — even though that’s never a good idea for the long-term. It’s got a sense of hope for the future, implying family life — “station wagon point of view, next we’ll move to Timbuktu, older brother and sister too”. I also love the instrumental break in this song — while this is a common piece of other songs on the album, this one seems to carry even more thought-provoking moments in its relaxed melodic motion.
Upon arrive at the tail-end of the album, listeners are treated to the title track “Somewhere Not Far From Here”. This one appropriately feels like a departure from the rest of the album, even though it’s still very cohesive as well. I like the contrast of emphasizing themes of sunshine and clear skies compared to the opening song about clouds. This also appears to be a metaphor for emotional communication and the interconnectedness of human thoughts and memories. Delicate piano notes round out the mix alongside light percussion and guitar strumming — a beautiful texture that swells and builds with more dynamics than the rest of the songs.
As this musical journey ends and gives way to a new one, Luke Gard treats listeners to one last immersive experience, with a shorter track simply titled “Outro”. Its minimalism isn’t lost on me, as I can imagine that he wanted to tie things up in a nice bow that would feel complete without being overly unrealistic. This one is a delightful instrumental moment to cozy up with after a long day, perhaps a bit of an empty page where Luke Gard might suggest you put your own hopes, dreams, and ideas for the future. I for one, loved the healing qualities of this album — not only the incredible lyricism, but also just the way the music seamlessly brought together so much of the complex emotions that crop up over the course of a lifetime.
Experience Somewhere Not Far From Here by Luke Gard on Spotify and other streaming services now!