Stew does suffer from a slightly muddy middle, however – the minimalistic Parachute doesn’t feel quite eventful enough and lacks the same sticking power of some of the other tracks. Hereditary, which follows, initially appears to follow the same path, but pulls itself together by slowly building into something that sounds bigger and more beautiful. It’s in moments like these, where the record spreads its wings most valiantly, that it reaches its full potential.
More than anything, Stew feels like a comfort record. There’s a warmth in the strums of its guitar that easily lodges itself into the heart and refuses to budge. And at its core, it's incredibly lovely.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Seaway, Deaf Havana, Lower Than Atlantis
Stew is released on February 18 via Rude