Peters, Griff: Canyons and Waves

Here is another artist I have become familiar with for the first time. Griff Peters hails from San Diego and has been around for years now, working and touring with the likes of Mike Keneally, John Mayer, Nina Storey, Billie Myers, and others, and felt the time was right to release his first solo album titled Canyons and Waves in 2022.

His music is billed as roots flavoured rock and while that fits there is more subtlety here to go along with fine musicianship, including outstanding bass work from Bryan Beller and steady drumming from Joe Travers. The playing is not flashy but Peters lays down some interesting soundscapes, textures, and fine guitar playing with the occasional cutting solo ala David Gilmour. The varied musical approach brings elements of folk, country, blues, rock, with proggy touches here and there.

Canyons and Waves begins with the short “Home� and its soft piano, crashing chords, and generally bombastic nature, a completely different sound from what I was expecting. Peters digs deep into his singer/songwriter persona with the folk and rootsy “Holiday�. His easy, laid back vocals are just so easy to listen to and are top notch throughout the album. At first glance the following track “Where You Been� has a pure country folk vibe but further along bluesy rhythms and classy instrumentation add a hint of prog. The cutting guitar and fluid bass are notable highlights. “She Plays with Light� is more in the rock vein with an ultra-catchy chorus. Beller’s bass playing is exceptional here. You also get the moody blues of “Choose Love� with its slow grinding guitar chords, the smooth melodic art pop of “Stained Glass Eye�, a very introspective piece, and the title track, ending the album with a slow and disparate blues guitar and minimalistic soundscape.

Griff Peters proves himself to be a fine guitar player and tunesmith on what is a richly varied and highly listenable album. For all you singer/songwriters out there check it out.

Released on the artist’s own label, Impropriety Records.

Track Listing:
1. Home (1:27)
2. Holiday (4:00)
3. Where You Been (6:26)
4. She Plays with Light (4:14)
5. Choose Love (3:09)
6. Marie Marie (5:10)
7. Climb a Tree (5:37)
8. Dirt (6:50)
9. Stained Glass Eye (5:18)
10. Canyons and Waves (7:26)

Added: January 14th 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist @ Bandcamp
Hits: 610
Language: english

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