Marty Van Wells returns for a third time with Songs To Send, an album that finds folk intimacy meeting a more upbeat, full-bodied sound. Still rooted in the simple relationship between a voice and a guitar, Van Wells allows the arrangements to breathe a little wider this time, bringing in basslines, harmonica, vocal harmonies and additional layers.
“Sunset” eases the album into view with shimmery strumming guitars and Van Wells’ husky, tender voice. His delivery is relaxed enough to make the song feel like a quiet conversation at the end of a long day, with the instrumentation giving his voice plenty of room to linger.
That intimacy carries into “About,” where catchy guitar strums provide a gentle pulse beneath his relaxed singing. The song circles around the desire to choose what feels genuine, particularly when it comes to someone who matters. Rather than dressing the sentiment up in elaborate production, Van Wells lets its sincerity do the work.
Then there is “And I’ll,” which builds its hook almost entirely through storytelling. The strumming remains gentle while each line naturally leads into the next, with the recurring phrase “And I’ll” pulling you further into the narrative. It feels deliberately conversational, as though the song is figuring itself out while you listen.
Van Wells cites Bob Dylan’s evolving sound as a major inspiration, and that influence is less about imitation than about growth: learning new techniques and discovering what becomes possible as an artist. Across Songs To Send, he experiments more boldly with harmonies and layers while keeping the imperfections that make the performances feel human.
At the end of the day, the album understands something important about folk music: sometimes the cracks in a voice are the places where the truth gets through.
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Review by: Naomi Joan