Lyle Hutchins – Flatlander
Lyle Hutchins chooses the modest route on his debut album “Flatlander”, and that pays off surprisingly well. The New Hampshire musician has created an album that sounds like a late evening by the fireplace – intimate, honest and sometimes painfully recognisable.
The first thing that strikes you about “Flatlander” is how small it sounds, and that’s meant as a compliment. Hutchins has deliberately chosen a sober production where his clear, often falsetto vocals get all the space they need. That voice regularly reminds you of The Proclaimers, but with the experimental edges of Bon Iver. It’s a combination you wouldn’t expect, but it works wonderfully. The accompaniment stays neatly in the background: guitar, drums, and on “Shoulders” some shakers that add just the right texture without being too distracting. This restraint in the arrangements ensures that, as a listener, you really start listening to the songs instead of getting swept away by a wall of sound.
Although the album is firmly rooted in indie folk, Hutchins dares to step out enough to keep it interesting. “River Runs” clearly leans toward Americana with its warm guitar lines, while “Stockholm Syndrome” shows more country rock influences. It’s precisely these kinds of excursions that prevent the album from sinking into monotony. “M.I.A” immediately sets the right tone – a song that shows someone at work who knows how to turn vulnerability into powerful pop. The track skillfully balances accessibility and depth, something that characterises the entire album.
The album title “Flatlander” refers to a New England term, and you can hear that geographical connection in the songs. This is music rooted in a specific place and time, but one that simultaneously addresses universal themes. Hutchins writes about growing up, about the feeling of not belonging, and about the difficult road back to oneself. Songs like “When I Was 13” and “Drive to Canada” have that typical melancholy of someone looking back on their youth without becoming sentimental. There’s an honesty in these songs that you don’t often encounter – Hutchins dares to admit that growing up is complicated, without making a big drama out of it.
Fourteen tracks are quite ambitious for a debut album, and that sometimes takes its toll. A number of songs feel like filler, and the album probably would have been stronger with ten or eleven well-developed songs. Also, a bit more variety in the arrangements would have been welcome here and there – the formula of guitar, drums and clear vocals sometimes becomes a bit predictable. The title track, “Flatlander”, that closes the album does feel like the perfect conclusion. It’s a song that manages to capture the essence of the entire project: modest but convincing, personal but not navel-gazing.
“Flatlander” isn’t an album that will blow you away, but it sticks with you. Hutchins has something rare: the gift of telling personal stories that feel universal. His music has the warmth of an old sweater – not necessarily spectacular, but exactly what you need. For a debut, this is impressive work. Hutchins shows that good songwriting and genuine emotion are still the foundation for music that touches. He doesn’t need to conquer the world with this album – it’s enough that he shows who he is. (7/10) (Beech Hill Records)
