With a title referring to an unofficial geologic epoch defined by human impact, Anthropocene is the Western Vinyl debut of Indiana native Peter Oren. Like his 2016 self-released Living in Light, it features an electric guitar-bolstered acoustic palette that invites elements of country, blues, folk, and rock into Oren's gritty yet graceful singer/songwriter fare. Here, though, a few additional instruments like pedal steel and Wurlitzer are among those covered by a backing band put together by Wilco's Ken Coomer, who also served as drummer and producer on the album. It's a predictably weighty, or at least well-considered collection of songs, with lyrics like the closer's "Welcome to this record/Goodbye to this world/May a new one soon be unfurled." All the while, though, listeners are also treated to folk-minded tunefulness and elegant arrangements, such as on the elegiac "Canary in a Coal Mine." Its moseying tempo, floaty pedal steel, and almost contrapuntal acoustic guitar accompany Oren's typically calm, resonant delivery. The bluesier "Throw Down" puts a dirty guitar tone high in the mix, while "New Gardens" heads into more rustic territory with guitar picking and fiddle. Throughout, Oren's vocal timbre has a natural tell-it-like-it-is authenticity that lends itself to the socially and environmentally conscious topics among the track list, including a title track that makes reference to pipelines and the value of bees. It's a solid label debut that finds its own footing apart from the Wilco connection.
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