Driftwood Pines quietly blaze new trails through the roots landscape with their captivating and soothing instrumental debut Crimson — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Featuring the Oakland duo of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter IJ Smith and drummer / percussionist Tony Daquipa, the four-song EP Crimson expands the boundaries of Americana by augmenting Smith’s glistening, melancholy lap-steel melodies and gently twanging tones with subtle, sublime and sometimes spacey ambient synth textures that add to its ethereal base.
“(The album’s) nostalgic melodies evoke memories of dusk transitions and a vast landscapes and long freeway rides to times past and future,” the pair say in a press release.
Truckstop Milkyway, along with its extraterrestrial title, boasts the most obvious ambient production. The subtle pulse in the background helps the listener conjure thoughts of wandering the nighttime desert, looking up to the skies and wondering at the billions of start above. The lack of vocals allows the focus to be on this music and vibe with no interruptions. The steel guitar does all the singing.
Hailing from the vibrant musical landscape of Oakland, Driftwood Pines emerge as a refreshing force in the Americana scene. Smith’s history includes work with the acclaimed Latin jazz crossover ensemble DDLO (Descargas De La Onda). Driftwood Pines pay homage to influences like Opez, Eagles, Hermanos Gutierrez and Dean Johnson, crafting a timeless sound that resonates with both tradition and innovation.
Listen to Crimson below, watch the video for Three On The Tree above, and follow Driftwood Pines on Facebook and Instagram.
