One of the positives to come from the split of beloved-indie rock band LVL Up in 2018 was the beginning of Dave Benton’s solo project Trace Mountains. While some elements of LVL Up could be found on Trace Mountains’ debut album A Partner to Lean On—lo-fi production, understated vocals, and a subtle taste for pop hooks—for the most part it ventured into new territory. Tender acoustic guitar, bedroom production, and light electronics made Trace Mountains a different but equally exciting project. The band’s newest single, “Where It Goes” opens with the same gentle charm of that debut but moves into a more heavily electronic territory only briefly explored on the album. With a minimal arrangement ruled by bass and an 808 drum beat, Benton sings of a childhood friend and the death of her father in a nostalgia-glazed whisper. It’s a soft but worthy addition to the Trace Mountain catalog that opens up the field for an even more eclectic sophomore album. – Cameron Carr
