Local singer-songwriter Joe Stilwell is no stranger to the pages of Whatzup. He’s been releasing solo music under his own name for a while now, a collection of engaging indie pop/rock that leans heavily into his faith and love for life. 

Handling all the music and production duties, Stilwell’s made his music intimate and singular to his art and what he stands for.

For Unseen & Evident, Stilwell works in collaboration with his friend and musical companion Noah Twombly, aka Van Nes. The result is eight tracks that cover everything from 2000s indie, folk pop, and bits of piano-inflected soft rock that never leaves you wanting.

Unseen & Evident touches on everyone from Bon Iver to David Bazan with plenty of earnest ’70s singer-songwriter vibes to go around. Stilwell and Twombly lock in well, seemingly finding the connective musical DNA that makes it hard to distinguish one from the other. 

“Angel Bill” has fuzzy guitars and a driving rhythm that lingers in dreamy melodies and a sleepy vocal delivery. There’s a laid-back quality, even with the guitars turned up. “Guzzling Down” is a piano-heavy track that sounds like classic Jackson Browne if Pedro the Lion was covering the ’70s artist. The countrified reminiscing in “Rushville Lanes” sounds like A.M.-era Wilco, and that’s not a bad thing.

Elsewhere, the piano and synth-led “Talk Talk Talk” delivers in thoughtful melodies and a touch of melancholy for good measure. “The Crooner” hangs in the air like stale smoke, bringing to mind the great Andy Shauf and his ability to tell sadsack tales in easy to swallow melodies. 

We close on “Wings on the Left,” which makes good use of some ’70s electric piano vibes and an undercurrent of longing in the vocal delivery.

Unseen & Evident is a breezy, engaging, and ultimately catchy collection of earworm hooks with an undercurrent of melancholy reminiscing.