Local Valley

Like a morning cup of coffee or a walk through the woods, José González's music brings with it a sense of reassurance and gentle awareness. His calm voice, thought-provoking lyrics, and nimble finger-picking patterns are a balm to the ears and soul; they encourage us to slow down and appreciate our surroundings. Arriving during a period of seemingly endless global tumult, Local Valley, González's first album in six years, feels especially poignant and comforting. As with previous releases, it was recorded at his home studio north of Gothenburg, Sweden and features little more than voice and guitar. In this way, it is a quintessential González record, simple and patient in its presentation with universal humanist themes and an understated appeal. A first-generation Swede born to Argentinian parents, he begins the set singing in Spanish. Over the woody tone of his signature nylon-string guitar he offers up a paean of gratefulness and wonder on "El Invento," a particularly winsome song that sets up the album's overriding mood. Here and there, sounds of nature bleed into the tracks like on the transcendent "Visions" with its insistent patter of birdsong punctuating philosophical lyrics depicting the quiet struggle of all beings. González's attitude throughout the album is holistic rather than political, subverting obvious tropes while getting his messages across through poetry and nuance. As the set progresses, the tempos increase, bringing a sense of playfulness to the second half where subtle electronic rhythms enhance the Latin feel of songs like "Lilla G" and "Swing." These joyful tracks offer an inviting contrast to Local Valley's weightier subjects and set the table for the sweetly tranquil closer "Honey Honey." With such long gaps between his releases, one might expect González to reemerge with a radically transformed sound, but it's the consistency and quality of his work that continue to impress, and the timeless Local Valley slots easily into his catalog as if it's always been there. ~ Timothy Monger