Chris Riffle - Introducing

In 2007, Bellingham, WA singer/songwriter Chris Riffle headed east to the other side of the country, taking up residence on New York's Lower East Side and plying his songcraft in the numerous pass-the-hat music clubs in the area. With a remarkable "old soul" folk style that belies his boyish looks, Riffle has evolved from the poppier exploits of his earlier songs into a writer and performer of uncommon depth and intimacy -- Nick-Drake-meets-Eliot-Smith influences that make his recent self-released album Introducing a rewarding, revealing listen. Riffle excels, says John Norris, in "creating quiet acoustic folk gems that are by turns wistful, wounded, firm, tender, smart, and utterly personal." We couldn't agree more.

One of the smartest things Riffle did for his new songs is to work with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jimi Zhivago, a master of creating drifting aural landscapes of pure organic quality: subtle hints of guitar washes, echoing piano chords, Hammond B-3 textures and lovely string backing (featuring Antony and the Johnson's cellist Julia Kent). Against this understated backdrop, Riffle's wispy, whisper of a voice remains the album's most telling instrument, a plaintive presence that makes songs such as the gorgeous acoustic hymns "Just Assume" and "Walk Away" breathe -- literally -- with an unhurried elegance. Also of note is Riffle's riff on the classic 60's Donovan chestnut "Catch the Wind", a song he says his parents used to sing to him as a child.

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Chris Riffle - "Catch the Wind" (from the album Introducing...)

Chris Riffle - "Just Assume" (from the album Introducing...)

Chris Riffle with his "amazing bass playing sister"