10-song Album
Out of Worcester, MA comes berm, an art-folk project captained by Dan Lambert. berm’s music occupies the strange space between remembering and inventing. Wistful, atmospheric jams like the title track “Highway through the Trees,” “Snowstorm” and “Epilogue” (which I got a kick of as it was the 3rd track on the album) are the perfect soundtrack for people who find themselves staring out of windows a little longer than necessary. “Cigarette” is another standout track that I listened to repeatedly. Like a nicotine fix, I couldn’t get enough of it. Listening to Highway Through the Trees is like driving through a forest after sunset when the headlights catch only pieces of the landscape. The darkness isn’t threatening; it’s expansive. Every illuminated branch suggests a thousand unseen ones beyond it. Andy Thomas’s deep cello mixed with the timbre of Z Harris’s banjo and the keys of Gretchen Neff Lambert create an eclectic soundscape, especially when balanced with Dan’s voice; which reminds me of a folkified Layne Staley. There are plenty of gems on this album, especially if you like deeply reflective indie-folk. (Addie H Fleedber)