Curiosity about his ancestry has led songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Son Little on a journey throughout the American South that has resulted in his fourth album, titled ‘CITYFOLK.‘ Little, whose real name is Aaron Livingston, is now living outside of Atlanta, and attributes the development of ‘CITYFOLK’ to going even further south to record in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. It was there that Little, whose past collaborations include The Roots and RJD2, connected with two-time GRAMMY-winning musician and Alabama Shakes band member Ben Tannerto flesh out sketches of songs that he’d crafted through epiphanies about his family’s roots.
The album opens with `Rabbit` with its enticing banjo hues, a number that rolls along and questions how practically divided our community has become and alludes to whether we indeed, know our own origins. There`s more of a afro / Caribbean or Cuban vibe to the swaying `Whip The Wind`, a track that may be about being misunderstood.
`Let’s Get Involved` is a kind of love song, a ballad which is almost gospel like at times. There`s a guiding underlying percussive beat to the soulful `It’s Yr World` which has a heartbreaking resonance with piano keys and a brief understated guitar solo in the later section along with some delightful harmonies.
I read that `Cherry` drifts through hazy memories and half-truths, chasing that electric moment when love feels both eternal and fleeting. It’s tender, a little tipsy, and full of wonder – the sound of falling in love at light speed, knowing it might all disappear by morning. A wonderfully dreamy song of devotion to somebody special. A wah wah guitar sound leads us into `Bottomless` a deep and thoughtful reflection.
`Be Better` is a song about release, resilience, and the quiet power of self-belief. It sheds the weight of old stories and broken expectations, trading despair for movement and renewal; it’s a hymn for transformation, challenging anyone ready to leave the past behind to step forward, even when the road ahead is dark. A brooding rhythmic thoughtful introspective observation. A shook tambourine allows the beginning of `The Valley` to portray a kind of field holler resonance which gains power both lyrically and musically as it evolves.
`In Orbit` explores the concept of coping with not being with the person you love. Son Little describes the song: I read and watch a lot of science fiction, and I’m obsessed with the idea of a thing being in different places at the same time. `In Orbit` plays with this idea lyrically, while using echoes and the spaces in my playing to suggest the great distance between lovers who for various reasons can’t be together. A modest modern R&B offering. We have in `Paper Children` a composition targeting the downtrodden and for me it brought to mind the same sentiment that Stevie Wonder brought us with `Jesus Children Of America` from the `Innervisions` album from fifty years ago. It seems as if nothing has significantly altered in the last five decades.
`Breathe` leads us out with finger clicks, a deep synth tone and some quiet hand percussion, harmonies, and keys. A final offering allowing a positive and optimistic sense of hope for the future.
There was so much to revel in on `Cityfolk` where Son Little doesn`t shy away from the harsh realities of life with some songs that will leave you with some food for thought, but he also expresses the thrill in life itself. He has a wonderfully rich and varied vocal range which will nigh on have you in tears one minute but full of joy in the next. Whether you engage with the lyrics or not, musically this is a delightful listen.
Rating 9/10
