Circle
Nakota Nation quartet Indigenous refine and expand their already impressive sound on their second studio full-length album,Circle. These twentysomethings prove themselves to be the most rounded of all the young guns. They embrace instrumental subtleties over rapid-fire blues scale exercises and emotionally engaging singing over howling vocals. And they write good songs, too--nine of the 11 tunes are originals, and all demonstrate grace, maturity, and soulfulness. The big organ with lightly distorted, snaking-guitar-lines sound works well for the group throughout. Thankfully, they deviate from the overtly (though capably rendered) Stevie Ray-ish sound of the opening track, "Little Time." The pedal steel-flavored album closer--famed Vaughn collaborator Doyle Bramhall's "The Moon Is Shining"--is a lovely, light-as-a-cloud number that definitely leaves the listener wanting more. Guitarist and singer Mato Nanji is truly a talent for the ages.--James Conde