A Softer Side of Steve Gunn

We already knew Steve Gunn was a prolific songwriter and master guitarist, but when 2016’s Eyes on the Lines was released, we began to truly see him as a visionary, too. It felt like a conceptual record, a dreamy journey of discovery through uncharted dimensions. It was heady, like Gunn is a mystic leading us somewhere out of this world. With his fourth studio album, The Unseen In Between, Gunn continues that journey, though this time  Gunnhis feet feel more firmly rooted here on earth. Gunn’s vivid, thoughtful observations of the world around him populate the songs on The Unseen In Between, from the people that have shaped him to the ones he’s encountered only in passing but have still left him feeling thoughtful about their inner lives.

Following the release of his record in 2016, Gunn lost his father. The impact of that loss is woven into The Unseen In Between, particularly on “Stonehurst Cowboy,” which finds him lovingly reflecting on their shared history and the mark his father left on him. It’s a sad song made stunning with Gunn’s signature pastoral acoustic guitar. “Luciano” is a tender tale of the relationship between a shop owner and a cat with an unexpected string arrangement that elevates it to swooning pop.

The Unseen In Between represents a significant turn toward melody for Gunn. Where past records have shown his ability to craft wild, unpredictable guitar arrangements, this one is full of catchy, melodic choruses. “Vagabond” may be the best example of this, with harmonies from Meg Baird alongside a sweet, twinkling guitar riff. Lyrically it’s one of the record’s darker moments, but sonically it’s one of the brightest. “Morning is Mended” is the stripped down version of Gunn’s embracing of melody. With nothing but an acoustic guitar, he brings us the gauziest, most delicate earworm on The Unseen In Between. It is romantic and soft, which are not two words often used to describe what Steve Gunn does, but which actually suit him so well.