Two highly successful EPs and a spot on the Twisters soundtrack under his belt, Dylan Gossett is proving to be quite the songwriting machine, which is only cemented with his debut 17-song album, Westward, released 18 July. A blend of country, singer-songwriter and folk, with Gossett’s rich and slightly husky voice, and the gorgeously earthy banjo and fiddle evoking crackling campfires and wide spaces, it’s an album that demands a road trip in search of some nature.
While Gossett might not reference Lonestar beer, quote Davy Crockett or list all his exes like his fellow Texan singers, his home state is still very much present, just in atmosphere rather than words. Westward feels like a long drive through the state where you watch the landscape through the window transform from the beautiful, self-described Hill Country to the flatlands as you head north. It feels so connected to the vast open spaces of Texas that not only can you almost feel the dramatic weather changes a drive across the state treats you to, where you watch the blue skies battle against dark storm clouds, you can even smell the sweet leather and cinnamon scent that Texas air has.
There are a couple of more overt Texas references, with a shout-out to College Station, home of Texas A&M, Gossett’s university, and cicadas which have the responsibility of humming the state to sleep, as well as a surprising use of the electric organ which feels like a nod to Austin. Despite being from there, Gossett’s music doesn’t necessarily feel like Austin. He errs more on the singer-songwriter, sometimes folkier side of the country spectrum, whereas in Austin, you tend to hear more 60s and 70s, as well as two-step rhythm influences. But on one of the album’s highlights, ‘Tree Birds,’ there features the warm sound of the electric organ, a mainstay of the Austin scene, and whether the nod is intentional or not, it’s a real nice touch.
There’s a sense of thoughtfulness throughout the album. Almost as if Gossett wants you to take some time to just listen and be. ‘Song About You’ feels like listening to the gentle pitter-patter of a warm but rainy day, a feeling evoked in most songs of the album, while with ‘Like I Do’ you can already see couples in each other’s arms during live performances. There are livelier offerings too, for example, ‘Hangin’ On’ is very Mumford and Sons, and ‘Sweet Lady’ feels like a quintessential driving song. ‘Stronger Than A Storm’ from Twisters would have been a welcoming addition to the album, especially where it would thematically fit in well with the other rain songs, but fans will be pleased to hear ‘Coal,’ a single that helped start it all for Gossett, has it’s place on the album.
It could be said that in this age of quick-turnover singles and short attention spans, a 17-song album is quite a commitment of time. But where it feels like it’s made to be played while driving, it benefits from a long journey with lots of time for reflection and escapism. An album that requires us to stop and take some time will probably do us all good right now.
