Eric Woodruff’s short-lived space rock outfit Delay made a big impact on the Bellingham, Washington music scene before cashing out in 2003. Over the next two years, Woodruff moved to Seattle and made basement recordings with cellist/friend Dylan Rieck, eventually collecting enough to warrant an album. Christened as Prosser, the project is essentially Woodruff on every instrument with occasional input from Rieck, keyboardist Paul Turpin and guitarist Josh Haupt (who own Clickpop Records) in a sonic brew that combines Woodruff’s space rock past with a rootsy and psychedelic alt.country shimmer. While this isn’t a particularly new concept, Woodruff succeeds by writing absolutely gorgeous, heartrending melodies and weaving them into songs that equally display their indie rock and roots pop elements. On Prosser’s eponymous debut, Woodruff’s songwriting and instrumental gifts snap and crackle like a collaboration between Billy Corgan and My Morning Jacket, particularly on the twang pop sigh of “I Met a Girl,” the melancholy swell of “Summer Song 1” and the Nick Drake-meets-the Beatles lilt of “Everything I Do.” Woodruff applies simplicity and originality to familiar forms, making Prosser a mournful delight.
~ Brian Baker
Release date: October 17, 2006
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