FUV's New Dig: Jeremy Messersmith

Heart Murmurs
Jeremy Messersmith
Glassnote Records

Affairs of the heart take center stage on Heart Murmurs, the new album from singer-songwriter Jeremy Messersmith.

For this new collection, Jeremy reaches deep into the human psyche to find inspiration for songs exploring the many aspects of love and relationships. The premise is a simple one, but Jeremy's abilities as a pop craftsman allow him to create songs that display a fresh take on the centuries-old art of the love song. The result is an album of songs that feel like personal expression while they mirror universal life experiences.

Heart Murmurs is a showcase for Jeremy's exquisite brand of chamber pop. String arrangements enhance many of the songs, which range from the glorious majesty of "Tourniquet" to the driving density of "Heidi" and "It's Only Dancing" to the gentle acoustics of the ballad "I Want To Be Your One Night Stand."

His sweet, gliding voice blends perfectly with his pop sensibilities, which bring to mind Elliott Smith or Josh Ritter by way of Paul McCartney. Throughout Heart Murmurs, Jeremy blends deceivingly upbeat melodies with dark sentiments (like in "Bridges"). His words display both a biting wit ("Hitman" and "Someday, Someone") and an occasionally tender touch. He even manages to combine the two, like in "Steve," a gently melancholic song with an ear-catching lyrical twist.

Heart Murmurs is the fourth album from Messersmith, who was born in South Carolina, raised in Washington and is now based in Minneapolis. It's the follow-up to his 2012 ambient EP Paper Moon, and his first full-length album since 2010's The Reluctant Graveyard.

In the FUV Vault:

• Jeremy Messersmith at SXSW, 2014