Other-worldly folk-rock collaboration from New York artist-musicians.
“Between Worlds” is the first collaboration between two established members of the New York art and music scene. Leslie Graves’ previous release was 2023’s “Hidden In The Days” while Toby Goodshank is known as a long-standing member of The Moldy Peaches, best known for their song ‘Anyone Else But You’.
The ten tracks here were co-written by the pair and have an ethereal quality that might be described as dreamy or psychedelic. Acoustic guitars and vocals that float above them give an other-worldly feel to the record by these Brooklyn-based artist-musicians.
Goodshank has had a lengthy solo career, recording and self-releasing fourteen albums in a five-year spell and touring Europe several times with Jeffrey Lewis, Adam Green and with comedy rock band The Pizza Underground. Adept at pen and ink drawing, his songs draw from underground art and music and as someone involved with the New York anti-folk scene, he often uses unconventional structures, humour and wordplay.
This being the case, it’s a shame that lyrics were not available for this reviewer to pore over as the otherwise flawless production sometimes makes them less than easy to pick out. There are harmonies and some neat dovetailing of vocals, as either one or other of the duo take their turn as a lone voice before a response from the other. It’s an effect that works well on the delicious ‘Apple’ where there’s an impression of a conversation before the voices join in unison.
There’s no doubt that the two singer-songwriters are well suited to each other musically and the album has an organic feel. In support, Jake Nicoll played several instruments and looked after the recording, assisted by Ariel Sharratt, who also provides saxophone.
Closing the album is ‘Where Are We Going’. Though the song expresses uncertainty, “Between Worlds” gives a strong sense that Leslie Graves and Toby Goodshank have a clear idea of their artistic direction.
