You Belong There

Album review

Ten years after his first solo EP, Daniel Rossen is giving us another taste of his unique voice, but this time across a full album. The mastermind behind Grizzly Bear quit the Brooklyn hype a few years ago and settled in New Mexico. It only makes sense then that You Belong There, his first solo album, is anything but urban and far removed from stressful city life. However, this album isn’t blissful by any means. It’s rich and complex, as if he’s taken all the best bits of Grizzly Bear and put them under a magnifying glass. Rossen is one of those songwriters that finds great inspiration in the offbeat musicians of the past, those that made their way to the top of a genre via a seldom trodden path. There’s elements of Robert Wyatt (Tangle), Van Dyke Parks and Judee Sill in his earthy symphonies which are often remiscent of a chamber choir. He’s also a big fan of Brazilian music and as a consequence, he’s taken unusual chords from Baden Powell (Unpeopled Space). His unique guitar playing, exotic chords, and the instruments he chooses to include (double bass, cello) demonstrate that Daniel Rossen has all the traits of a true craftsman; one who constructs towering buildings from the smallest of stones. His tracks also feature baroque elements typical of Grizzly Bear, as well as the stunning harmonics used by his good friend Robin Pecknold in his band Fleet Foxes. Chris Bear, drummer for Grizzly Bear, also lent a helping hand on this new release, though Rossen is the sole architect of this incredible baroque folk record that alternates between the flamboyant and the intimate. This album is a real gem. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz