Album Review Daniel Rossen - You Belong There

Given that it’s a fair assumption that anyone seeking out ‘You Belong There’ is already a fan of Daniel Rossen’s alma mater Grizzly Bear, the soothing warmth that pervades his debut solo record is almost a time portal back to mid-‘00s Brooklyn; a point somewhere when the hedonism of the 2001 breakthroughs had dissipated, and before the cynicism of the area’s current crop had yet to rear its head. It’s at once jazzy, orchestral, cinematic and intentionally obtuse - while yet remaining understated. The likes of the sweeping ‘Keeper and Kin’ sit alongside more melodic numbers such as the skittish ‘Unpeopled Space’ and quietly euphoric ‘I’ll Wait For Your Visit’. The gem here is ‘The Last One’, using the record’s muted tones to almost joyous effect. Definitely an acquired taste for those who Grizzly Bear’s less immediate side already ticks multiple boxes, but for those it’s surely a win.