On an icy Midwest day, backed by some of the Midwest’s finest musicians, Greg Gilbertson entered Pine Hollow recording studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a setting both silent and vibrating, to make a new full-length record. It will be released May 4, 2018. “The record is called Surviving the Echoes,” Greg says, “and is an exploration of how our best ideas and intentions have bitten us in the ass. At the same time, it’s redemptive; what I imagine Kurt Vonnegut might write if he had been able to hope in something.”
Gilbertson’s new project expertly balances dark themes of war and depression with a promise of hard-scrabble grace in the face of cynicism. His warm tenor singing voice complements the clear notes of his guitar playing, which is at once smooth and complex, and lends itself well to the subject matter. It feels at times like a spiritual handbook, at times like a love note through the ages, and is embedded with a dark hope. It is layered with biblical imagery and haunting storytelling that explore a longing for better days, while refusing to look away from the darkness. The songs suggest that, once our eyes adjust, glints of light might be enough to guide us through. (Full Article)