‘Islands’ is Keegan DeWitt’s official debut album. However, this native of Portland, Oregon has not been idle before this release, having been showcasing his talents as a film score composer (being nominated for the Independent Spirit Award) and performing as a songwriter in New York’s Lower East Side, where he has supported the likes of Rhett Miller and Roman Candle. However, ‘Islands’ marks his first attempt at breaking out all alone in the music scene, with no other artists to hide behind.
Now, the result of his intensely hard work is realised in a collection of 10 songs that are simple, sweet and perfectly sound tracked to warm summer nights, long walks in the country and whatever else your mind can conjure that makes you think of something entirely peaceful. The instrumental talent on ‘Islands’ is phenomenal, with lush instrumentation dipping and flowing in a colourful kaleidoscope around the jaunty piano, casually strummed guitars and DeWitt’s own vocals, pleasing in their warmth and ever so slightly husky, which really bring the songs to life.

Imagine slipping an arm around your lover’s waist whilst looking at the sunset during ‘Stormy Weather’, whereas the likes of ‘Come Celia’ is the literal sound of a spring in your step. ‘Walk Alone’ has a country-esque feel to it, with its swooning guitars and soft rolling drums. The album as whole seems to drift together with such ease, that you don’t seem to notice the track changing gaps. Even the track ‘Untitled’, at a mere 46 seconds is a snippet of pure loveliness. This melting together of songs however proves the album’s only real flaw; all the tracks are rather similar, of the same folksy, whimsical calibre. However, we can’t really fault DeWitt, he does whimsical folk at its best.

By Vanessa Banks

Rating: 7/10
Format: Album
Label: Izumi
www.myspace.com/keegandewittmusic