Invitation

by Heather Woods Broderick

Overview

A touring and studio musician who has been a longtime member of Sharon Van Etten's band among her other indie folk-minded collaborations, Heather Woods Broderick stepped out on her own in 2009 with the acoustic album From the Ground. She went on to expand her sound with atmospheric electronics on 2015's Glider and continues to fortify textures on her third solo LP, Invitation. It takes its title from a Thomas Moore quote about being open to experiences and change. That type of literary inspiration is apt for a meditative set of songs that look to nature, childhood summers spent along the Oregon coast, and reflection itself for subject matter. The album opens with warped, dewdrop piano effects and fingerpicked acoustic guitar on the somber "A Stilling Wind." Broderick's soft voice seems the perfect accompaniment to these gentle tones but holds up to an expanding arrangement that adds lush strings and light percussion including hand drums. The songwriter traveled from Brooklyn to Pacific City, Oregon, to write the album, taking work cleaning houses between writing sessions at the piano. Most of the songs after the opener are piano-based, though delicate textures remain. "White Tail" begins with the sound of crickets and rhythmic percussion before a knottier arrangement including repeated piano chords and polyrhythms develops. Meanwhile, Broderick sings of "a tangled place, it is not gentle" on the song that recalls episodes of depression. "Nightcrawler" has a jauntier piano rhythm and lilting vocal melody, with atmosphere provided by pedal steel. On other tracks, synth-bass drone, electric guitar effects, flute, and nature recordings are among select components. Despite its overall dreamy, soft-spoken approach, Invitation is often weighty, full of thought and longing as well as moments of wonder. It's an affecting mix, one that lingers and withstands repeat listens. ~ Marcy Donelson

Product Details

Release Date:	04/19/2019
Label:	Western Vinyl Records
UPC:	0843563149751
Rank:	180640

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Heather Woods Broderick   Primary Artist,Cello,Flute,Organ,Piano,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals
D. James Goodwin   Percussion,Pedal Steel,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric)
Danny Bensi   Strings
Peter Broderick   Vocals,Synthesizer
Anna Fritz   Cello
Jessica Larrabee   Choir/Chorus
Mirabai Peart   Viola,Violin
Laura Stevenson   Choir/Chorus
Jason Lawrence   Drums,Percussion
Maia Friedman   Choir/Chorus
Alicia Walter   Choir/Chorus
Andrew Carlson   Bass,Percussion,Synthesizer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Baritone)

Technical Credits

D. James Goodwin   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Danny Bensi   String Engineer,String Arrangements
Cory Gray   Engineer
Josh Powell   String Engineer
Whit Hassett   Cover Photo,Insert Photography
Jeff Rowles   Insert Photography
Ryan Francesconi   String Arrangements
Heather Woods Broderick   Composer,Engineer,Producer