Balsams cover

Balsams

Released

There is a tradition of pedal steel guitarists who abandon the world of country music to live out life in the land of pure vibes. Chief amongst this cohort is Daniel Lanois, who surfed a pedal steel onto the shores of silvery sustain. Chuck Johnson is another pedal steel cloud carrier, and Balsams is his most coherent statement. There is little here aside from the warm and icy sprawl of  strings, though the bass tones do keep things luscious. Johnson helps a small neighborhood stay afloat here with the hum of harmonic addition.

Sasha Frere-Jones

Recommended by

Suggestions
Indicum cover

Indicum

Bobo Stenson
Brewster’s Rooster cover

Brewster’s Rooster

Jack DeJohnette, John Surman, John Abercrombie, Drew Gress
Maleza cover

Maleza

Las Malas Amistades
Lola cover

Lola

Carrie Rodriguez
Edition 1 cover

Edition 1

King Midas Sound , Fennesz
Azure cover

Azure

Gary Peacock, Marilyn Crispell
Homeland cover

Homeland

Laurie Anderson
Even the Sounds Shine cover

Even the Sounds Shine

Myra Melford Extended Ensemble
Break Stuff cover

Break Stuff

Vijay Iyer Trio
Force of the Wind cover

Force of the Wind

СОЮЗ (SOYUZ)