Stream & buy Elephant Path – ‘Expectations’
Elephant Path is a native of California, now based in Salt Lake City, Utah via Louisville, Kentucky – which is where he first laid musical roots, first as a full band, before striking out on his own as he has become a solo studio-based project pursuing the creation of a catalog of records; building a world for the latest incarnation of Elephant Path to exist in. Debut album ‘Expectations’ features eight captivating tracks that blend various musical influences and narratives, on a truly immersive record. The album encompasses a range of emotions, reflecting the personal growth and artistic exploration of Elephant Path and showcasing all that he is – a prolific all-encompassing singer-songwriter with a penchant for folk infused bluesy rock & roll, that explores topics of love and experience, mixing unique textures & sounds over lush acoustics.
The beginning of his journey was boosted locally, whilst Elephant Path was based in Kentucky, as after touring locally for a few years, then a full band, they landed local radio playlist rotation on WFPK and a slot on their prominent ‘Live Lunch’ series, an invite only streamed event reserved for the best of local bands. This led to a further local showcase at the Mercury Ballroom, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious venues in Louisville, and a first festival appearance at Brouhaha in New Albany, Indiana. Stints in Delafaye’s touring band followed before he shifted city and began to project a new future for Elephant Path.
From the introspective melodies of opening track ‘Don’t Know How to Feel’ to the captivating instrumentals of ‘Turpentine’, the album demonstrates Elephant Path’s diverse musical prowess. The tracks seamlessly blend genres and incorporate influences from artists like Wilco, The Grateful Dead and Cass McCombs while still creating a truly distinctive sound.
Elephant Path’s founding member and lead artist, Devin Snelling, poured their heart and soul into crafting this album. ‘Expectations’ is a collection of songs that hold personal significance and narratives. The aforementioned ‘Don’t Know How to Feel’ reflects a period of contemplation and life-altering decisions, while ‘Getty Villa Garden’ delves into a dreamlike experience in a lush jungle – this track was his first released on his new label home, Street Mission Records late last year.
The album also includes ‘Your Weight in Gold’ the first song he released after Elephant Path underwent a significant lineup change and transitioned from a live performance-focused group to a studio project. This transition allowed Elephant Path to explore new avenues and push his creative boundaries.
Track number 3 ‘Unfold Into’ offers a glimpse into the Elephant Path’s more recent endeavors, as he explores the interplay between guitar melodies and his distinct vocal style. This experimentation allows him to push the boundaries of his singing and gain newfound confidence, resulting in a captivating, melodic and standout song.
That Grateful Dead influence becomes apparent in track 4, appropriately titled ‘You Will Find’ where Elephant Path pays homage to the band’s timeless sound and songwriting prowess, infusing their own unique style into a composition that captures the essence of musical exploration.
Elephant Path’s dedication to creating a rich listening experience is again evident in track number 5 – ‘Turpentine’, an instrumental piece that takes listeners on a captivating journey through its ever-changing musical landscape. The track incorporates the sounds of nature, with the introduction featuring an enchanting recording of backyard bugs from his old band mate Delafaye’s recording studio. Closing out the album is ‘Overtime’, the longest existing album track, bringing the album full circle.
“Always serving the song”, throughout, ‘Expectations’ is an album to loved and cherished. It continues Elephant Path’s upward trajectory, representing his most accomplished recordings to date as he looks to join the ranks of more of his influences, including the ones previously mentioned – Andy Shauf, Dr. Dog, M. Ward, Elliott Smith, to name a few more – The kind of company Elephant Path hopes to keep in the years to come.
Tracklisting:
Don’t Know How to Feel
Your Weight in Gold
Unfold Into
You Will Find
Turpentine
Getty Villa Garden
Anything Goes
Overtime