Midwest Soul Xchange - New American Century
- Written by Julia Lamb
Midwest Soul Xchange is taking on the traditionally rooty genre that is Americana, but with a fresh approach that blends synthesizers into the mix. The Wisconsin duo comprised of Nate Cherrier and Ryan Summers have cooked up a melting pot of prog-rock, pop and folk-rock with Americana at the core; the result is - in a word - eclectic.
Their latest release is New American Century. The 11-track album was recorded with Summers in Wisconsin and Cherrier in Phoenix, meaning “every note and beat was literally an ‘exchange’ of ideas”. Opening track ‘Set A Course For Common Worlds’ could be seen as a nod to that across-the-country songwriting partnership: “So set a course for common worlds, if by air or by sea/ And make your way back down and home to me”. The blissful tune sets the tone from the get-go for the album to follow, vanilla-sweet harmonies, countrified electric guitars and a generous serving of wailing harmonica.
Track two ‘Roots’ leans more on the folk side, employing acoustic guitars to lead the way, but it’s not before long that a high-rising synth makes an entrance and lends the song a distinct indie vibe. ‘Truth Attention’ is where the duo really starts to play with experimentation, a dark, and vaguely psychedelic five-minute track that takes the pair’s sound in a new direction. This mood is revisited on ‘Sun Dried’, a song which is also spiced with hints of Eastern influence, while ‘Occupy The Piper’ combines a Wild west-Americana feel with overriding synthesizers. Its an odd idea, but one that the band manages to pull off.
New American Century is a ‘mixed bag’ kind of an album. Midwest Soul Xchange clearly aren’t afraid to dip their toes in new waters, and the result is a record that never stands in one place for too long.
New American Century is available from Amazon.