When the Day Leaves (Frenchkiss Records) marks Valley Maker’s fourth studio album. The pandemic has seen us all become experts in the imbalance of uncertainty these days, newly accustomed to canceling plans and tentatively rescheduling them for some future we can only imagine. For Crane - a ruminative songwriter, riveting guitarist, and singular voice - such a sense of uncertainty has emerged as his steadfast companion these last few years, a period of profound transition. It’s prompted him to appreciate the present even as he analyzes it, to acknowledge the future’s limitless possibilities even as he recognizes its potential perils. This flux is the anchor for When the Day Leaves. Through his compelling accounting of the past and his reckoning with this moment, Crane stares down the “part of life that remains unknown.” Stream/purchase When the Day Leaves HERE.
American Songwriter chatted with Austin about the making of the LP - read the Q&A here. Crane also spoke with KEXP’s Jasmine Albertson about When The Day Leaves - check out their conversation here.
"It’s a calming, folky rumination about shifting sands, and much like his previous work, 'Mockingbird”'thrives on Crave’s intuitive vocal cadence, subtly accenting words to draw the most passion out of his songs." Paste
"a single interconnected work full of stormy moods and thoughtful meditations." All Music
"Crane has given fans a reflective and relatable album...the vocal partnership between Crane and Godwin stands out and creates for a unique beauty in songwriting that doesn’t come along often." Northern Transmissions
"A well-crafted set of introspective folk-pop, featuring ...haunting harmonies (courtesy of Amy Godwin), melancholy melodies and lyrics of love, loss, anxiety, uncertainty and renewal." KEXP
"The most obvious lyrical theme conveyed in the eleven tracks is one of movement, whether a change physical location or emotional changes that reflect Crane’s uncertainty in moving and with the state of the world." Glide
“a tender portrait of perseverance, an ode to carrying on.” Clash on “Instrument”
"atmospheric rural folk rock." American Songwriter on “No One Is Missing”
“Quavering vocal harmonies and delicate acoustic accents roll through a blissful backcountry scene” The Line Of Best Fit on “No One Is Missing”
"The single incorporates soft acoustic guitars to create a flowing tone through the intro, soft hums floating through the track." MXDWN on “No One Is Missing”
"Crane’s lingering vocals and gentle guitar work create a tone that is nostalgic and meditative...This raw track is deeply beautiful, encouraging its listener to take solace in the fact that no matter what, they are always in motion." Wild Honey Pie on “Mockingbird”
"the man behind Valley Maker, has the rhythmic sensibilities and distinctive vocals reminiscent of Kurt Vile." Speak Into My Good Eye
"Crane’s nimble fingerpicking, fleshed out by Amy Godwin’s celestial backing vocals, carry the ghostly, windswept track across six minutes that explore themes familiar to Valley Maker: memory, nature, the passage of time." AV Club on “Mockingbird”
"The track is a smart and heartfelt piece of folk storytelling, that feels rich, vivid, and full of a sense of place and atmosphere." We All Want Someone To Shout For on “Mockingbird”
"Songwriter Austin Crane revives his beloved brand of atmospheric folk and perspicacious modern gospel that reflects on settling back into an old, familiar space and community."
New Commute on “Mockingbird”
"From the heavenly backing vocals to the steady strums of the guitar, ‘No One Is Missing’ there’s a grounding to track that is hearty yet pensive." Abduction Radiation
"The raw ambience of the track offers a calm and refreshing sonic breeze."
Aupium on “No One Is Missing”
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