Review: Pressing Strings ‘…And I For You’
By Mike O’Cull
Maryland-based roots rock/Americana trio Pressing Strings deliver a smart, tuneful song cycle about gratitude, devotion, and wisdom on the group’s new album …And I For You.
The record drops July 14th, 2023 via Warren Haynes’ Evil Teen Records and is the seventh full-length effort of the band’s career. Producer Steve Wright helped Pressing Strings capture the most fully-evolved and timeless music they’ve ever made. The songs here resonate and connect with listeners in a way that soothes and reassures them that our tumultuous modern world doesn’t have to keep them down. Ultimately, it’s an optimistic record that uses melody and folk, blues, rock, funk, soul, and reggae influences to reflect a life-affirming positivity directly at anyone who hears it.
Pressing Strings is Jordan Sokel (guitar, vocals), Nick Welker (bass, vocals), and Justin Kruger (drums, vocals). The group came together in 2006 while Sokel was still in college and released their debut record Where We Are in 2008. Since then, they’ve created a solid body of work that includes the albums Episodes (2010), Pressing Strings (2012), Life of a Tree (2013), Owe the Source (2015), and Settle In (2020) as well as the EPs Most of Us (2016) and Morning Takes (2021). In the last ten years, PS has toured with and supported important artists including The Beach Boys, Gov’t Mule, Toad the Wet Sprocket, JJ Grey & Mofro, Rachael Yamagata, Neal Francis, The Toadies, Jerry Douglas, Sam Roberts Band, Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root), Rayland Baxter, and Junior Marvin. They’ve also rung up more than six million streams and received wide-spread radio play.
…And I For You gets underway with the lilting, reggae-splashed soul single “Your Love.” It’s an absolutely infectious track built on vocal and instrumental hooks that will stick in your speakers and a groove destined to inspire spontaneous dancing. You can hear echoes of Ben Harper and Bob Marley in the tune’s vibrations but there’s no imitation to be found. It’s a wonderful introduction to Pressing Strings for the uninitiated as well as an uplifting jam for anyone needing to have a better day.
The mid-tempo “No One Else” is chill and soulful but slips a Beatle-esque pre-chorus in just to keep you listening. The vocal harmonies are catchy and beautifully performed here and through the record and the three voices intertwine wonderfully. …And I For You is the first Pressing Strings record to feature the voices of all three members and having that extra vocal part in the arrangement is a major progression. It makes the band sound larger and more sophisticated.
“Weather The Storm” gets a bit more acoustic and exudes a quiet confidence and reassurance that’s welcome and needed in the present day. This and the other cuts here are full of well-handled rhythm and textural guitar parts from Jordan Sokel. He seems to play only what’s necessary to create the emotion at hand and supports each song in an egoless way. Most trios play like they’re getting paid by the note but Pressing Strings holds their fire and come off as a true ensemble.
The hand-clapping “Oh My My” is funky and full of atmospheric tones and positive attitudes. Sokel, Welker, and Kruger share a strong pocket here and show that they can groove with the big dogs. The lyrics deliver knowledge and wisdom by the pound and keep the mood confident but introspective.
Other highlights on …And I For You include deep cuts “When The Morning Comes” and “Carousel.” The record is a high-value set of song-oriented rock that incorporates other flavors in a seamless way without ever feeling forced or pretentious. Pressing Strings are a refreshing bunch that takes a more oblique approach than most trios and succeeds where others wouldn’t even think to go. Highly recommended.
Pre-order the album Here
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