Album premiere: Wyndham, ‘Fistful of Stars’

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Wyndham (Photo by Rachael Cassells)
Wyndham (Photo by Rachael Cassells)

The doomsday clock might be ticking, Wyndham Garnett reminds us on “Fistful of Stars,” the second solo album he has released as Wyndham, but it’s no reason to drown in the bile of daily headlines or the social media furor they inspire.

The album recalls a time when ’70s AM radio often served as an emotional counterpoint to the tumult of the times. Wyndham’s folk-pop finery and balmy vocals (think: Gerry Rafferty) paint a picture of an artist determined to center himself emotionally, lest the baggage of the outside world become an unbearable weight. “I want to be a flower that’s growing in the desert sunshine / I want to bloom in the darkest nights,” he sings on the album opener, “Time to Kill.” While buoyant, it’s not Pollyanna; it’s simply his statement of purpose.

“Fistful of Stars” is the follow-up to Wyndham’s 2016 releases, “Made in Voyage” and “Double You.” It finds the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer (who helmed Lola Kirke’s 2018 album “Heart Head West” and the EP that preceded it) working with producer-engineer Sean O’Brien. A founding member of Elvis Perkins in Dearland and Diamond Doves (and a former touring member of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), Wyndham was joined on the album by a host of like-minded guests. Among them: Omar Velasco (Amo Amo), Shane Mckillop (Gardens & Villa, Amo Amo), Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes), Matt Aveiro (ex-Cold War Kids), Sean Walker (ex-Delta Spirit), Zack Tenorio (Arc Iris).

From the tropical-flavored “Bossa Blues” to the rolling 4-minute anthem “Soul” to the closing country ballad “Spark,” the album subtly shifts palettes. Kirke contributes backing vocals on “Powder,” a good ol’ hold-my-hand pledge of love. Find one of those postcard California vistas and listen accordingly. “Fistful of Stars” is out Friday.

||| Stream: “Fistful of Stars”

||| Live: Wyndham performs Friday night at the Moroccan Lounge, along with Lola Kirke, Jonny Fritz, Laura Bird (of The Mynabirds), Prism Tats, Whispertown, Jake Bellows, Jess Williamson, Dustrider (of Pavo Pavo), Chris Lynch (of Gardens & Villa) and Naomi Greene. Tickets.