Dustin Bentall & The Smokes – You Are an Island

dustin


This latest EP from Dustin Bentall & The Smokes is presented ostensibly as a companion piece to 2012’s Orion. While a few songs off You Are an Island would fit into the vibe of Orion, this EP also features work that is definitely a departure from much of Dustin’s previous output. Producer Ryan Dahle (Limblifter, Age of Electric) clearly helped Bentall move out of his comfort zone. The result is an short, eclectic set of songs that is perfect for a summer afternoon booze cruise or a day spent sipping Luck-Dogs on the beach. While the experimental tunes are a nice addition (especially the title track), I’m still drawn to the classic Bentall sound on “Pretty Good Life,” “Every Chord That Rings”, and “Shine.” Regardless of whether you’re a fan of Bentall’s already, or this EP marks your introduction, you’ll be listening to this album on repeat for a good while. (Aporia, dustinbentall.com) Sheldon Birnie

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *