José González: Leaf Off / The Cave
José González’s heartfelt brand of indie acoustic music has captivated audiences the world over since his cover of The Knife’s “Heartbeats” was released in 2003. The Gothenburg, Sweden-based artist is now on the cusp of releasing his first solo full-length album in over seven years, but that’s not to say he hasn’t been busy. Maybe it was his extensive work on the soundtrack for Ben Stiller’s film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” but González opted for an ultra-simple approach. Working without a producer or studio (the album was recorded in González’s kitchen on his laptop) the aim with Vestiges & Claws was simplicity. If lead single “Leaf Off / The Cave” is any indication, no mark of quality or intimacy was lost with this DIY-method. Gently uplifting and entirely genuine, González’s latest work just may be his best.
