Keyboardist and composer Scott Routenberg creates some artsy moods that mix indie rock with small group jazz. He uses programming as a rhythm section, prancing on “Light Smasher” and dancing on the electric “Flower Moon”. Sofia Kraevska adds voice in an intriguing fashion, dreamy on “Introduction” and lyrical for the bohemian “Penamerous” and floating over the synths on “Hidden Star”. Guitarist Chris Whiteman and harmonica player Howard Levy give a folksy yet edgy Nashville environment of “Home Sweet Home” along with some violin from Jonathan Reveneau, while Levy’s flutes team give a reminiscence of Windham Hill “New Age” sounds on the Monument Valley’d “Native Land”.
Routenberg is most lyrical with tenor saxist Phil Doyle for the melancholic “The Day We Went Away” and most shadow’d on the film noir toned “Meltdown” with echoes of a chase scene. Beat scene beats.