little champion – Peaks Island and Other Places
It’s tempting to make a silly turn of phrase like “little champion… big sound” when discussing the new album from Asheville, NC-based singer/songwriter Dustin Goldklang (aka the aforementioned little champion)… But that would be a lie. The reality is that little champion specializes in intimate and loquacious slices of life – aurally painting what seem like oddly-specifically descriptions of oddly-specific places. Underneath the specificities of his writing lies a little pain – like that found in an awkward moment stuck in your head for eternity or, as LC puts it, “trying to laugh about things you’re not sure are funny.” That’s the vibe you can find throughout his latest album Peaks Island and Other Places – super intimate and a little awkward (in the most endearing possible way). at the end of a listen through this album, you really feel like you’ve grown up alongside Goldklang in the oddly-specific town of Peaks Island.
“Peaks Island Ferry” is a great intro to this album – with the hushed sincerity of Sufjan Stevens and a simple, plucky acoustic guitar progression, Goldklang sings about signing leases, inconveniences, and all the implications of living on an island – including a self reference to how this particular might be different if he did indeed stay. “Peaks Island Ferry” swings directly into the jaunty chamber pop of “Drive,” and with the exception of some impressive Midwestern-inspired guitar flair, there’s hints of sunshine-soaked, mid ’90s jangle acts like The Sundays here. Goldklang likes to refer to himself as a “bedroom punk,” and I think that’s a fair moniker, but there’s a wide range of sounds to be experienced here on PIAOP.
By the time you get to track three (and my choice for album favorite), “Half Moon Bae,” you’ll start recognizing that Goldklang’s skill as a songwriter comes from his ability to make you feel like you’re existing right alongside him. Eloquent poetry pushes these songs forward, but “Bae” also has one of the catchiest moments on the album. The rhythmic chorus and purposeful feel changes throughout this song are intriguing and endearing, and channel the early work of James Mercer and Ben Gibbard. Speaking of feel changes, “Suburbs” might be the most abrupt change on the album, and might be the most “bedroom punk” of all the songs on PIAOP.
Before we start getting too oddly-specific ourselves, here’s some rapid fire recommendations that exist across the rest of Peaks Island and Other Places. The plucky bass/guitar work on “Overpass” is lovely on the ears. “Rustling” is arguably the most beautiful moment on this album, even with its fleeting runtime of 1:43, it will still have you in your feelings. “Kids in the NW” is a Casio-keyboard powered nod to the ’80s, and while this would be a perfect time for excess and neon lights, Goldklang uses it as yet another storytelling vessel, albeit a palate cleansing one. And before you go thinking that this album is all feelings, stories, and meandering thoughts, give a listen to “Like the Earth is Flat,” where Goldklang rips on flat earthers a bit.
Peaks Island and Other Places is out now (May 2nd, 2025). Check it out via the bandcamp embed below, or, follow this Linktree link for all the different ways to support little champion.
Categorised in: Album Reviews
This post was written by Nick Sessanna