(self-released)
The latest EP from Tender Mercy, the moniker of astral-folk singer-songwriter Mark Kramer, “It Was You” moves in an ambitious direction, as Kramer found a different collaborator for each track to replace his original guitar lines with their own vision, stretching the sonic landscape. While the collaborators bring different sensibilities — some layered and hook-oriented, some ambient and strange — it’s a cohesive, spacey record that’s balanced and calculated — minimalistic, but new aspects seem to jump out on repeat listens.