Chrysaline

Description

Chrysaline is the ninth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Josh Garrels, independently released on his own label Small Voice Records in August 2019. The album was produced by Josh Garrels and Isaac Wardell (Charlottesville, VA Sessions) with Garrels self-producing tracks 1, 9, 13, and 15 (Muncie, IN). Mixed by Jonathan Class and Dave Wilton (tracks 9, 14, and 15).

Indiana-based singer/songwriter Josh Garrels has become renowned for producing highly creative and intimate pieces of work throughout a career that his seen the independent artist forge his own path by releasing albums that each seem to top the previous one in terms of depth, class and ingenuity. His latest release is no exception and finds the songsmith in direct faith mode like never before with a collection of tracks that point upwards to God in praise and adoration in a way that dispenses with the intriguing spiritual ambiguity of previous releases like, using the analogy of the album title, a butterfly casting aside its pupa. As ever, Garrels lays on a sonic feast that satisfies and surprises at every turn and, over its hour plus duration, the album takes in fuller band sounds, ambient electronica, acoustic moments and even Eastern leanings (most notably in the utterly sublime «Invocation» which appears to feature former collaborators Mason Jar Music) to ensure that the man’s songs are presented in as vivid and diverse a way as possible. Of course, Garrels’ characteristic whispered and often falsetto vocals are what makes his music stand out and his performance on this album finds him using his voice as more of an instrument than just merely a way of communicating his message with tracks like the stirring opener «The Gift», the aforementioned «Invocation» and the simply stunning communion song «Take Eat» all being particular highlights in a masterpiece of an album full of highlights. Ultimately, this is a supremely spiritual piece of work that will reach deep into believers’ hearts and help them find peace and purpose – in no small part thanks to Garrels’ innate and God-given musical talents. [Lins Honeyman, Cross Rhythms, October 2019]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/chrysaline/1471359265)

CD tracklist:

01. A Gift – 4:13
02. Anchor for My Soul – 4:26
03. Invocation – 4:48
04. Closer Than a Brother – 5:09
05. Faith, Hope, & Love (feat. Lauren Goans) – 4:19
06. Consecration – 3:48
07. Butterfly (feat. Latifah Alattas of Page CXVI) – 4:12
08. Praise Him (feat. Songs of Water) – 3:52
09. What a Friend – 4:06
10. Perfect Love – 3:37
11. The Banner (feat. Jason Barrows) – 4:41
12. Follow – 5:05
13. Don’t Be Afraid – 4:00
14. Take, Eat (feat. Latifah Alattas) – 4:40
15. Evangeline (feat. Garrels Family vocal – Poppy Evangeline!) – 4:09

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://joshgarrels.bandcamp.com/album/chrysaline

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An interview with Josh Garrels about the process of making his new album Chrysaline

– It began with an exercise in simplification – leaving the extraordinary, and entering a place seemingly ordinary. In this place, like a secret passageway to Narnia, I found the invitation to explore worlds within worlds.