Album Review: Ray LaMontagne – Monovision

For Ray LaMontagne's eighth studio album, the New Hampshire-born folk rock man made the decision to take a few steps back. 2018's Part of The Light saw LaMontagne experiments generously with expansive production and deep, psychedelic sound. MONOVISION, by contrast, is a stripped back, keep-it-simple-stupid approach.

Released via RCA Records on June 26th, MONOVISION revels in its own nostalgia, existing as both a time jump back to the folk and Americana of the late sixties and a timeless, gentle 2020 offering that longs for the simpler days.

Heavily rooted in influence, the album was produced, written and engineered by LaMontagne. 'Summer Clouds' has a distinct Joni Mitchell-like phrasing, while 'Misty Morning Rain' could have just as easily come from a Van Morrison record. 'Rocky Mountain Healin'' is a placeholder for a James Taylor tune. It's soothing, occasionally blues-tinged folk rock is by no means revolutionary, but perhaps that is the point.

'Weeping Willow' is a little too saccharine for my taste, with its layered harmonies, but LaMontagne has a tender voice with an undeniable warmth on 'Morning Comes Wearing Diamonds', a reminder that LaMontagne is an extremely talented songwriter. 'Highway to The Sun' closes MONOVISION in much the same fashion as the album opens – relaxed, breezy, and full of good memories.

• Out now via Sony Records
• 7/10