Gianmarco Cilli's debut solo album Homely Joys is like a leaf. And here's why it's like a leaf: A leaf possesses natural beauty, of course (so does Homely Joys)and it also appears to be delicate (but it's not -- not really -- and neither is Homely Joys). And a leaf comes from something strong and tall, massive and alive. It's not so much that Gianmarco Cilli himself is strong, tall, massive, or alive (though he might be, as far as you know), but music is, and community and friendship and love are; and Homely Joys comes from all these things.

Let's say right here that the music on Homely Joys is soft and summery, featuring lots of acoustic guitar and bell-like electrics and harmony singing and dreamy percussion. It would sound very, very good in a canoe on a quiet lake.