Rosetta West revitalize their all-time fan favorites in "Gravity Sessions."

The Illinois-based blues-rockers Rosetta West have established an ever-growing presence among music aficionados, and after having achieved cumulative success on several releases, it was about time to bring them all under one roof. This happened, literally, as they headed to Chicago's famed Gravity Studios. After listening to the outcome of this productive session (and having talked about them prior in another article), "Gravity Sessions" is hands-down one of the best additions to their musical portfolio.

Not so long ago, we couldn't help but heap praises for their previous endeavor, "Night's Cross." There's a solid reason as to why the band has enjoyed such acclaim despite their late arrival on streaming platforms, and it's their commitment to crafting a versatile signature— all the while remaining rooted in the spirit of blues-heavy classic rock. Open-minded to merging inspirations from world music, psychedelia, and more has ended up impressing both a growing, general audience (who are now stumbling upon them online) and dedicated underground fans who have become devoted to their consistent out-of-the-box approach over the years (namely, releasing songs through less mainstream means). Since our last encounter early this year, the EP "Circle of Doubt" (uploaded last April) has only cemented the fact that Rosetta West's popularity is burgeoning in the indie scene.

Having access to an arsenal of vintage recording equipment at the Gravity Studios, which has previously hosted other iconic names like Silversun Pickups and Fall Out Boy, it was just the playground for the band to experiment and record at high-fidelity— without discounting the warm, vintage sheen that is ubiquitous in the group's discography. Over seven well-received numbers were inducted in this 'best-of' project, among those being "Dora Lee," "Broken Glass,” "Deeper Than Magic," "Baby Doll," and more.

These faithful renditions of the original releases are a treat for audiophiles: under the masterful hands of studio founder and engineer Doug McBride, the scratchy guitar tones offer a crisp, lush texture to the instrumentation, as the raw and ardent baritone from the frontman Joseph Demagore cuts through the thrumming ensemble effortlessly: right from the taut, strutting opener "Dora Lee," which wields biting guitar riffs and an energizing performance. Also, there's an interesting official video for that on YouTube (linked below).

"Broken Glass" is an ominous tune with loads of menacing distorted tones as the vocals rally attention towards looming doomsday from never-ending battles (and then signing off fashionably in a controlled barrage of drums). In the hypnagogic "Deeper Than Magic," the spotlight is taken by the lustrous, whirling tonality of the psychedelic guitars. "Venuous Blue" adds just the excitement before the curtains are drawn, chock full of anthemic goodness in its overdriven solos and elevating drums— a perfect placement as the final act to keep the listener riveted till the last minute.

Listen to "Gravity Sessions" on Spotify and Bandcamp.