Steven van Betten - “Friendship”
Photo by Ginger Fierstein
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Steven van Betten has once again completely won us over with the charming sounds of his folksy craft. This time, he’s give the world “Friendship,” the closing track of his debut LP, Friends and Family.
The song begins with a delightful dance– a lo-fi jaunt involving what appears to be two acoustic guitars in a wonderful game of call and response. It is not long before van Betten begins delivering the lyrics, imbued with a copious amount of good-natured vibes akin to that of The Magnetic Fields and Neutral Milk Hotel.
The rhythm is quite bouncy, held in place by a minimal beat that summons the arrival of the bass. A major highlight here is the ear-worm melody provided by a synth, which could very easily be a slide whistle a la The Flaming Lips. If you do not have a smile on your face and some extra pep in your step by the thirty-second-mark, you are doing it wrong.
“Friendship” is filled with a marvelously vintage ambience and possesses a distinct analogue flavor, which we much prefer over most modern productions. There is nothing here that sounds digitally manipulated, which makes it very easy to imagine Steven and his friends rallied around a microphone, creating these joyful sounds.
If you’re in the market for a tune that’ll make you happy to be alive, we suggest getting “Friendship” in your ears asap. And while you’re at it, give the rest of the LP a spin:
-HD