Released to acclaim in the US early last year, 26-year-old Ritter’s debut earned him support slots with Dylan and the admiration of Joan Baez. Now available in the UK, this is softly rolling roots-folk with the warmth of John Prine and a twist of Richard Buckner. Townes Van Zandt and Nick Drake (“You’ve Got The Moon”; “Drive Away”) are obvious touchstones, too, but ldaho-born Ritter’s lugubrious stealth is rooted in his own earth, addressing the paradox between the allure of the road and the pull of tradition. A second album, Hello Starling, is already available across the Atlantic and will be released here next year.
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