Favourite Armchair is a multi-instrumental art-folk and psychedelic band from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Their self-titled debut is an abrupt yet meticulously crafted collection of naturecore hymns and rustic patchwork sound collages. In an era increasingly saturated with AI-generated content, few records feel as genuinely human as this one.
The opening track, Overflow, immediately introduces the rich sonic palette that defines this fifteen-song collection. Experimental by nature, it constantly shifts through an array of instruments that weave in and out of the arrangement, keeping the listener fully engaged. Vocally, the performance sits somewhere between David Berman, Leonard Cohen, and Bonnie Prince Billy. The production is wonderfully organic and rustic, but the electronic coda hints that unexpected turns and sonic experimentation will be a recurring theme throughout the album.
In This Heat begins in a more familiar folk setting, and perhaps resonated even more with me because I was listening to it while temperatures outside had been hovering close to 40°C for several days. The vivid imagery of blazing sunshine, oppressive heat, and humidity creates an immediate sense of place. Yet the song is about much more than literal weather – for me the lyrics use heat as a metaphor for intensity and vulnerability. The repeated mantra of “In the heat” becomes hypnotic, while the instrumental arrangements remain rich and rewarding to explore.
The first half continues with shorter pieces such as Mystery Pop, Theme From Oxygen Concentrator (Pt. 1), and Will Optometry Overcome?. Mystery Pop is one of my personal favourites, both lyrically and atmospherically. What begins as a rumour about a mysterious pop performance gradually unfolds into a meditation on kindness and connection. A Brazen Accounting For follows as a spoken-word piece that leans further into the band’s poetic sensibilities.
The album’s highlight for me is The Red Pony, which is fittingly named after one of my favourite books by John Steinbeck. Ironically, I’ve read nearly all of Steinbeck’s major works except The Grapes of Wrath, just like the narrator in the song. Ultimately, the track isn’t really about The Red Pony itself, but about curiosity, and the small moments through which books quietly shape our lives. Musically, it reminds me of Mount Eerie’s more recent work, with its intimate storytelling and understated beauty.
The second half opens with the gorgeous instrumental Alongside A Brackish Estuary, where acoustic guitar and piano take centre stage. More broadly, the album is a wonderful showcase of instrumental variety. Wooden spoons, melodica, glockenspiel, mandolin, and countless other sounds appear throughout the record. Every instrument serves a clear musical purpose, adding texture without drawing unnecessary attention to itself.
The country-tinged Durability of London feels both like a celebration of architectural heritage and a subtle critique of contemporary urban development, delivered with the band’s characteristic wit and understated humour. Another standout from the second half is Worthy Effort, which blends echoes of Sufjan Stevens and Silver Jews while proving that Favourite Armchair can write beautifully simple songs just as convincingly as their more experimental pieces. Its closing trumpet melody is especially lovely.
The album concludes with its longest composition, The Flowers Recede in Due Course. The lyrics meditate on the passage of time, aging, impermanence, and the quiet acceptance of change. Once again, the writing is exceptional – poetic without ever feeling pretentious, thoughtful yet grounded. Lines like “Some of our songs are just field sound recordings / Took from someplace somewhere upon this earth” perfectly capture the band’s dry humour and understated sense of irony.
According to the band, these songs “were conceived and written from often deeply personal and emotional prompts and then embellished and lifted up through the process of creation and collaboration with friends.” That statement feels entirely accurate. The result is a genuinely unique record, crafted with remarkable care and brimming with warmth and sincerity.
This review was made possible by SubmitHub
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