Resonating guitars, introspective songwriting, and melodic shifts between folk and rock shape Staying & Leaving, the debut album from Mutual Ascent, a largely solo project formed by a songwriter whose musical ideas span more than a decade. Written across six cities during a period encompassing law school, career uncertainty, and major personal transitions, the record traces the complicated relationship between finding a place to belong and moving on from familiar surroundings. Houston-based producer Brian Baker and a group of local musicians helped bring the songs to life.
“Acceptance” kickstarts the album with a warm assortment of jangly guitar warmth and twangy ardor, then moving into an expressive lead performance that admits “we’re not getting younger” amidst assertions that “I’m messing up your stride.” The heartfelt declaration that “I was wrong to break your empty heart” is framed thematically as a breakup song, and functions aptly as an opener to an album that explores personal change and relocation. The album’s oldest song idea ensues in “Insomnia, Pt. 1,” which the artist wrote during high school. Midpoint acoustics and lyrical introspection compel into observations on friends and personal sacrifice, rising with heartfelt guitar twangs to capture the experiences of leaving your hometown and the people within it.
Ruminations on friendship and one’s hometown continue to engage on “Ghosts,” reminding fondly of Destroyer in its delivery inflection and guitar ranges. Ruminations on how a change of locale can be “enough to choke out the sound of ghosts” render a cathartic impact, particularly as stirring guitar tones weave in amidst the acoustic strums. A fantastic guitar solo approaches the three-minute turn with particular entrancement. “The Exchange” is another gem, emitting a power-pop build to the “just ’cause the words don’t sound familiar, don’t mean it’s gonna kill ya” encouragement, beckoning to take risks while not working so hard; it plays like a heart-on-sleeve unveiling from the artist, who wrote the track after experiencing “the existential nightmare of trying to pick a career through speed-dating-style recruiting.”
“Happy” is an especially absorbing piece of songcraft, its first-half folk exterior expanding to a haunting, multi-layered lead presence with warbled synths, emerging rhythms, and triumphant guitar jangling. Venturing across potential careers, from being an author to a boxer, consumes as invigorating harmonic layers complement a satiating shift to rock ardor, and then into an electro-folk outro. “Writer” follows with a sturdy rock harmoniousness throughout, its lyrical embrace of mistakes and experience enveloping alongside. Album finale “Insomnia Pt. 2” arrives thereafter, its opening declaration of “not coming home tonight” pairing with lush acoustics, and growing into a glimmering synth-touched radiance. Resembling a cathartic journey of personal evolution amidst melodic rock and folk outpourings, Staying & Leaving is an excellent album from Mutual Ascent.
