North Green Down, The

Gentle, melodic melancholy. Dakota Suite is the name of Chris Hooson’s musical project, which has transitioned from crooning, Red House Painters-esque sadcore into fragile classical/ambient over the years. The album is inspired by Hooson’s last moments with his late sister-in-law. The man is entrenched in sad situations -- he’s a social worker and used to work at a mental hospital. Errante contributed to the last Dakota Suite remix album and adds subtle electronic manipulations, drones, whooshes, and effects that add drama to the plaintive, yearning, lush, acoustic “home listening” (Boomkat) sounds. RIYL: Peter Broderick, Max Richter, A Winged Victory for the Sullen.

1. Melancholic piano pattern and lightly picked guitar layers. (3:36)
2. Entrancing. (2:38)
3. Slow guitar strum and loose Japanese feel. (2:37)
4. Sustained piano chords, restrained orchestral elements. (5:25)
*5. Lusher, ringing repetition with gentle come-down and more ambient sounds. (3:56)
6. Soft woodwind, melodic piano tonal wash. (3:40)
7. Almost upbeat chamber feel, but still longing. (5:14)
8. Sad, held violins and simple piano, with some subtle looped touches. (4:02)
9. Cinematic solo piano in a Kevin Spacey movie. (3:50)
10. Buoyant, layered strings and unoffensive piano chord jabs. (3:45)
*11. Ambient sounds, acoustic guitar instrumental, warm. (1:49)
12. Long, slow, rich instrumentation, bitter. (6:05)
*13. Hypnotic, electronic percussive undercurrent, “nice sounds” of guitar and horns on top. (5:51)
14. Layers of lightly picked guitars that sound like harps, strong bass throb and stringed angelic relaxation. Somewhere between Lickets and N5MD. (5:58)
15. Major echoey, cinematic, stringed violin and piano drama. (10:41)
16. Warm guitar stride and lavish strings. (5:02)
17. Dreamy Japanese new-agey hum. (1:52)
18. Gentle sustained piano pattern and moody guitars/bass come in. (3:38)