September is the transitional period between summer and autumn, including windy days and the first leaves changing in color. When picking the perfect album for these calming post-summer days, I gravitate towards light, woodsy records with hints of folk and jazz. Here are some suggestions from me to you. Got another one? Email me at [email protected]
No.1: “Faye Webster” – Faye Webster
Faye Webster’s self-titled sophomore record encapsulated the beginnings of the sound that we all know her for today. Compared to her 2013 debut, “Run and Tell,” it incorporates more of the indie genre than the folk, alt-country sound that her debut had. Almost like bathing in the soft sunrays of autumn, “Faye Webster” feels pure to the soul. The buttery sound of the instrumentals and the springy drums– combined with Faye’s sweet-like-toffee voice–morphs into a comforting simulation of early autumn. If I were to name the coziest record, this would be it. The guitar feels so aired out and luminescent, and the hop and kick of the drums just keeps everything slow, but paced at the same time. ★★★★☆
No.2: “The Astrud Gilberto Album” – Astrud Gilberto
Known for her summery bossa nova tunes like “The Girl From Ipanema,” Astrud Gilbeto’s first work feels softer than some of her other projects. It strays away from the paradisiacal jazz sound that Gilberto plays around with in her other recordings. Tracks like “Dindi” and “Photograph” have a higher variety of sound within the jazz genre and use more upbeat drum rhythms and vocal stylings. Using lighter ambient pianos and delicate strings that sound like pure tranquility, Gilberto captures the essence of the sun shining through fading leaves. ★★★☆½
No.3: “Clair-Obscur” – Françoise Hardy
One of my favorite albums of all time is the beautiful French-pop record “Clair-Obscur,” which is the 26th studio album from cult-classic French singer-songwriter, Françoise Hardy. I believe this is Hardy’s most developed record sonically, partly because it was the melting pot of her discography and partly because it mixed together all of the sounds that she had developed through her previous 25 records from 1962 all the way to 1996. It can lean melancholic at times, but some of the brief interludes of softer brighter tones from Hardy makes it feel perfect for the transitional period between summer and autumn, which is September. ★★★★★
