New Music From Madison Cunningham: Ace

It's always a treat when an album brings you right into its world from the moment you hit play. Such is the case with Madison Cunningham's new album, Ace, co-produced by Robbie Lackritz [Tape Op #96, Tape Op Podcast #49], who has also helmed albums for Feist, The Weather Station, and Bahamas.

Ace follows the fantastic 2024 release Cunningham Bird, a collaboration with Andrew Bird recreating the classic album Buckingham Nicks album by Lindsey Buckingham [Tape Op #146] and Stevie Nicks before they joined Fleetwood Mac.

Ace is an intimately recorded collection of songs that features primarily acoustic ensembles. The woodwinds, strings, brass, and piano are beautifully arranged to showcase Cunningham's lyrics, and often quiet and breathy voice. There is plenty of acoustic guitar, some sparse electronic elements and programming, and even a guest vocal from Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold [Tape Op Podcast #51].

From a production and engineering point of view this collection is masterfully arranged, recorded and mixed. It is sweeping and cinematic in its capture, but never loses an intimate connection to Cunningham's voice, lyrics, and narrative. There are hints of Nick Drake, Kate Bush, and George Martin/Beatle-esque string and orchestral elements sprinkled throughout Ace's 14 tracks, but it is decidedly Madison Cunningham through and through.

Co-produced by Madison Cunningham and Robbie Lackritz, engineered and mixed by Lackritz, arrangements by Jesse Chandler and Madison Cunningham, and mastered by Patricia Sullivan.