Angel In Plainclothes

Fifth solo album from the 33-year-old L.A.-based singer-songwriter, who’s a frequent collaborator with Sufjan Stevens. This album is a small miracle — De Augustine was at home on Halloween 2021 when he lost feeling in his entire body and collapsed. He couldn’t move, hear or see well. The medical crisis was never fully diagnosed, and De Augustine has had to relearn how to walk, talk, play and sing. “Angel in Plainclothes” emerged from the artist’s lengthy journey back. The album moves away from his early DIY days to a set of indie folk tracks that have more layers while remaining spare, fragile and intimate. RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Denison Witmer, Elliott Smith, Andy Shauf or early Paul Simon.
— Francis

Recommended: 5, 4, 1, 9, 2, 7, 10. No FCCs noted.

1. (3:00) Empty Shell — Wistful waltz featuring De Augustine’s close-mic’d ethereal vocals, strummed guitar and harp. Almost a Beatles white album vibe with its throwback strings. ****
2. (3:46) Pet Cemetery — Exotic rhythms created with unusual instruments, setting up an island vibe. Guitar, tinkling piano and shimmering idiophone, with haunting harmonies. Lyrics about the pet cemeteries for the stars in L.A. ***
3. (2:49) Spirit Of The Unknown — Sensitive and achy love ballad with a deliberate tempo. Quavering, falsetto vocals. Rich orchestration.
4. (4:22) The Cure — One of several standout singles. Soft and Donovan-like, but with more energy in the choruses. Guitar and chime-y keys. Lyrics compare managing a chronic illness with the cycles of addiction. ****
5. (4:07) Mirror Mirror — Lilting vocals over a droning soundscape created using the varispeed function on a tape machine. Nice mid-tempo rhythm, strings and backing harmonies. An early Paul Simon feeling. ****
6. (2:28) Cosmic Ride — Aptly named, otherworldly lullaby with guitar, piano and breathy vocals.
7. (2:44) The Universe Was Our Mother — Slow fade in. Gorgeous halting, crystalline love ballad featuring harp and piano. ***
8. (3:41) With A Love So Kind — Another gentle, heartfelt arrangement with doubled vocals, swelling strings and xylophone.
9. (4:09) Pictures On My Wall — Strummy and bouncy folk song. This one could easily be a Simon & Garfunkel tune from their early years. ***
10. (3:06) Goodbye Baby Blue — A brief, hopeful and uplifting closer. More traditional folk with a solid bassline. Beautifully harmonized vocals. A hint of Americana. ***