Artist William Fitzsimmons

Having already established his hushed folk-pop on previous albums—including 2008’s stripped-down ode to broken hearts, The Sparrow And The Crow—William Fitzsimmons returned in 2011 with Gold In The Shadow. The record builds on his previous work, holding the melancholy but upping the tempo and adding touches of drum machine, keyboards, and strings. On tracks like “The Tide Pulls From The Moon” and “The Winter From Her Leaving,” Fitzsimmons’ gentle whisper sounds not unlike Sufjan Stevens—though his arrangements focus more on depth and less on being intentionally messy/adorable. But even as Fitzsimmons expands his sound, Gold In The Shadow maintains the intimacy of past releases.

Updated 04/13/2011