Departure Street - This Broken World

 Released: October 31

Following up from last year’s Into the Drop Zone, French guitarist Allan Kimmel (as Departure Street) brings us another collection of introspective and emotive tracks in the format of This Broken World. As the title may suggest, the inspiration for this album is the current work we inhabit with all of its maladies and shortcomings. But what you might not expect is the far less sad or depressing tone of the compositions contained within which instead veer much more into the realm of reflection and compassion. Even with the source inspirational material, the music never falls into the morose or somber. Rather, it conveys a sense of awareness and a commitment to persistence despite all of the apparent sadness of the broken world. 

A big reason why the album avoids falling into a musical doom spirial is the guitar improvisation itself. Departure Street is well-known for floating melodies and flourishes in his playing and this element shines through spectacularly. Even with its wispy trails, it pushes that sense of reflection rather than languishing and brings a slightly hopeful tone to all of it. It’s interesting as well what is combined with these stringed flourishes and wanderings. Subtle bits of ambiance form a sort of underlayment for the improvisation, mainly in the form of looped pieces of guitar and notes stretched out with a smear of reverb to make a fully fleshed soundscape. It’s a technique not unfamiliar to Kimmel, but it is used carefully and craftily on this album to create something that feels like far more than just a untethered soundscape. It feels real, tangible, and beautifully reflective of the world we inhabit.