Mahto & The Loose Balloons’ Instagram bio playfully recites “original tunes from Eastern Tennessee”, and we sure do believe them. ‘On Air (Live Radio Performances)’ is a pretty peculiar EP, the sort of record that exudes a high degree of wholesome character and timeless allure. Built on simple and heartwarming acoustic tones, the EP collects a series of live radio recordings and offers listeners a pure, unfiltered look at the whimsical and genius artistry that propels the American project. There’s a lot of Appalachian theming here, a factor that greatly influences Mahto’s relatable storytelling and down-to-earth vocal delivery.
‘On Air’ travels Folk and Americana with quiet confidence, yet it also appears not to care for any categorisation effort. There are no formal creative limits on what the Tennessee-based group is doing. Simply, they write and perform immediate musical matter, material that mainly blooms through a gentle acoustic guitar and a dynamic microphone. Some of the performances on the EP have a keen lo-fi flair (‘Onion’ is the perfect example of that), adding further texture and authenticity to an already triumphant record.
Who is this record for, ultimately? It’s certainly not for anyone seeking mainstream polish and contemporary theming. Instead, it’s for the brave, perhaps localised and regional listeners, the kind of folks that might find Mahto’s relatable songwriting an exquisite addition to their daily grind. ‘On Air’ also contains a few tracks with larger arrangements, a sign that there’s probably more than meets the eye when it comes to Mahto & The Loose Balloons.
Delving deeper into the record, Mahto explains: “I love the tradition of releasing a live album. This is my twist on that, limiting myself to live radio sessions.” Mahto Addison-Browder sang and played both guitar and piano. He is joined by Will Diebold on upright bass and electric bass. Niko Graham played the drums. Ella Patrick appears on fiddles. Travis F. Welch also played guitar.
Recommended! Discover ‘On Air’ now: