Getting your player ready...
Kyle Wagner’s has lived nearly 31 years in relative obscurity, which is odd considering how many well-known artists the project has likely influenced.
On the Nashville songwriter’s newest effort, “FLOTUS (For Love Often Turns Us Still),” use of auto-tuned vocals, processed beats and organic samples mirror Bon Iver’s , especially on the transcendental 12-minute opener, “In Care of 8675309.” And the lo-fi twang of “Relatives #2” would make Sparklehorse’s proud.
By wearing the artists he’s inspired on his sleeve for this album (due out today via Merge Records), Wagner might finally get recognized as the influential genius he is. Yes, “FLOTUS” might just be a breakthrough.
