By Charlie Englar
Fort Collins resident Alexis Pastuhov is exposing his soul. All These Secrets Made The Greatest Friends was recorded in a bedroom with
mostly Alexis and his guitar. By result, minimalism and songwriting are the name of the game, with a generally somber and desperate vibe for the
duration of the album.
The disc opens with multiple songs, which convey feelings of isolation and hanging clouds of lost unknowns. In “Someone, Somewhere” Pastuhov longingly sings, “You think that I’d be somewhere/you think that I’d be someone by now.” Pastuhov uses multiple chances throughout the album to speak to jilted and lost lovers, while also questioning himself about his ability to connect. “Pickle For A Heart” fi nds Pastuhov claiming, “I convey my love to you with mixed up signals/and you confess your sins to me without shame.”
One of the more interesting tracks on the album, “The Roaring 20’s,” opens with a psychedelic thunderclap surrounded by faint hints of jingling bells. The song progresses, and eventually Pastuhov releases ghost-like hisses with an empty, reverb-fi lled aura.
Minus a few exceptions, the majority of the album is a low-key tonal note of exasperation.
However, Pastuhov does have skill in songwriting, and I suppose the coffeehouse crowd wouldn’t have a problem not being moved to get up and dance.
I may be at fault for wanting more upbeat stuff, but the body of work on this album is honest and consistent.
myspace.com/alexpastuhov
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