Cast Spells - Bright Works and Baton

Better known as Maps & Atlases’ chief guitar-noodler, David Davison’s Cast Spells project is the sonic antithesis to his math-based day job. More focused on song than polyrhythmic oscillations, debut EP Bright Works and Baton embraces country twanging and a traditionalist take on American storytelling. Opener Glamorous Glowing recalls Sufjan Stevens at his finest; its pretty pink melody steeped in chime while Davison’s brittle crow swoops from above. Potted Plant and American Quilts fashion out a similar pattern, each buxom with instrumentation and weeping stanzas. Yet, despite these creeping pleasures, the record fails to maintain such altitude and wispy closer A Badge sloops forgetfully into the ether. Not a terrible stab at diversification then, just not a great one.