Description
Pressed on Eco-Record / PET, an environmentally sustainable alternative to PVC. Otto Benson presents Peanut, his second LP with Palto Flats this year. Known for his prolific output under the aliases OTTO and Memo Boy and an enthusiastic following, Otto released Peanut digitally earlier this year to wide acclaim. On Peanut, Otto stretches out as a songwriter, fully exploring the use of voice for the first time, accompanied mostly by guitar and keyboard, save for two instrumentals, “Mr. Peanut” and “Soy Beans,” which also employ percussion. An understated, psychedelic folk record, Peanut’s musical palette belies a depth of lyrical and tonal expression. The songs’ instrumentation heightens this effect: as each song unfolds, layers build beneath Otto’s voice, subtly shading them in. On “Drive Away,” Otto is accompanied by Henry Munson and Sean Quinn, with warbling slide guitar adding a colorful twang to the song’s sense of drift. Songs like “Red and Neon,” “Raisin,” and “Witnessing” are familiar and recognizable, yet elusive at the same time, with Otto’s voice humming alongside his guitar. A collection of intimate songs, Peanut finds a new path forward for Otto Benson, one he ventures alongside his listeners. Following the album’s release, Otto performed these songs worldwide, with shows in Japan, a headlining North American tour, and shared bills with artists like Mac DeMarco and Bill Callahan
