Play-In: Cinder Well v. Henri Texier

[baystateoftheart]

No Summer is a gorgeous record vocally and instrumentally, and the fact that it draws heavily from roots music is a plus. I found the songwriting to be a bit uneven, with some great ones and others that were just okay. All told, a very good album. 3.5/5.

I will listen to Chance tonight or tomorrow to complete my listening for this round. My first impression is that if all the words except the title disappeared from the album cover, it would work well as one of those surreal horse memes.
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[baystateoftheart]

Chance is an album that is strong at the bookends - in this case the first two tracks and the closing title track. My favorite of these is Jungle Jig, which has some inspired jazz guitar from Manu Codjia. The five tracks in between are no slouch either, and each has something to offer, drawn out by a talented combo with no weak links. Texier and company may not be making anything groundbreaking, but they are making fresh and vibrant jazz in 2020, and that definitely counts for something. Quite a fine record, and one that edges out Cinder Well as my favorite in this match. 3.5/5.
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[travelful]

I think these records are my two favorites of the whole play-in round so far (still havent heard Wendy Eisenberg v. Cult48). Difficult decision which to pick...I'd love to see them both in the first round

I think I'm going to go with Cinder Well because it was a tighter listen. Towards the end of Chance I was ready to play something else. Overall both records are very good albums though.
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2020's Hip-Hop
2020's Country

[cestuneblague]

Yeah I really didn't know what to pick this tournament, but Cinder Well has always grabbed me. I like the mix of the old and the new, especially it bringing not just celtic but plenty of english folk influences as well, but what really stood out to me was the production- uniquely it uses space and even moments of silence really beautifully, and even with the timeless influences the subject matter feels very modern. Great matchup overall.

[Repo]

Really tough matchup, but Henri Texier just may make me a jazz fan. So that gets the nod.

[baystateoftheart]

Chance defeats No Summer 10-8 to advance to round one.
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