Delta Moon

Delta Moon is a mellow and mildly melancholic collection of songs about the simple joys and narrow horizons of small-town life in the southern states. Hunter Moore's storytelling lyrical style call to mind Ellis Paul or John Gorka, writers who strive to fit the depth of character and penetrating insight of a good short story into the framework of a four-minute folk song. But his mild-mannered baritone vocals are more akin to those of James Taylor, David Wilcox, or Lyle Lovett. (The catchy irony of "Other People's Misery" is particularly Lovett-like.) Moore projects down-home friendliness and earnest warmth throughout the album, adding folksy charm and authenticity to his country-inflected contemporary folk tunes. The arrangements, too, are simple and comforting — a casual blend of acoustic strumming, rootsy Hammond organ, drawling bass, and tastefully twangy pedal steel. It is a thoroughly enjoyable album, the kind that is perfectly suited to late-night drives on long road trips. And though Delta Moon is a little too consistently laid-back to provide any truly memorable standout songs (the quietly catchy title track is the closest Moore comes to a single), it is the sort of album that gets better with repeated exposure. Like the small towns he writes about, Moore's songs are not flashy or attention grabbing. It takes a long stay to really get to know them.