October 20th, 2015

Taylor Guitars Features The River Pilots in Wood & Steel Magazine! 

 "A warm acoustic current flows through the recent self-titled release from The River Pilots, an Americana duo comprised of singer-songwriters Robert Natt and Zach Wiley. Based in Roanoke, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina, respectively, the two bonded a few years back through shared musical tastes that favor a melodic acoustic sound, sweet vocal harmonies, and tastefully distilled arrangements. Their resulting musical collaboration manages to shine with tonal richness while also embracing the simplicity of a good melody."

" Their production preserves the melodic essence of the tracks, highlighting the organic character of the acoustic instrumentation and pushing the vocal harmonies forward in a way that gives them added intimacy. “And When It Rains,” a sweet ode to buying a house and building a life together, captures the emotional accessibility of Natt and Wiley’s songwriting. The lilting rhythm of “Devil Woman” conjures the timeless sound of The Band as the lyrics take the perspective of a performer surveying a troublesome audience member from the stage. “Come Home” calls to mind the melodic melancholy of Elliott Smith as Natt and Wiley’s wistful harmonies float over shimmering acoustic arpeggios. On “For I Know,” an earthy kick drum adds a buoyant heartbeat as the tune builds on an ascending vocal line to express the hopeful optimism of not-yet requited love. “August’s Sentiments” embellishes the acoustic fingerpicking with cello and subtle string arrangements to add emotional depth. “The Water’s Edge” adds a rich sheen of layered background vocals reminiscent of a classic Eagles track. Together, the album tracks form a cohesive collection that demonstrate that these co-Pilots have a natural sense of musical direction, and one that’s pleasant for listeners to follow."

Check out the full article on page 29:

Taylor Guitars Wood & Steel Magazine Fall 2015