With You is the fifth album from Canadian acoustic guitarist/composer David Lindsay, and what an incredible album it is! I've had the pleasure of reviewing all five of David's albums, and all have been stellar. Like his previous albums, With You was produced by Will Ackerman at his Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont and features several of the outstanding musicians who often appear on Ackerman's productions: Jill Haley (English horn), Will Ackerman (guitar), Eugene Friesen (cello), Jeff Haynes (percussion), Michael Manring (fretless bass), Premik Russell Tubbs (Lyricon), Noah Wilding (vocals - no lyrics), AND a wonderful surprise appearance on two of the ten tracks by pianist Philip Aaberg (one of my all-time favorite artists!). Like David's previous albums, the music on With You is soothing and relaxing. One piece is a guitar solo, and the other tracks are duets, trios and larger combinations with the outstanding supporting musicians. This would be a great album for relaxation, studying and background music, but do yourself a favor and dive into the music with full attention to savor the subtle beauty of the music as well as the very high quality of the musicianship and the recording itself.

With You begins with "Badlands," a piece that features Lindsay, Charlie Bisharat, Michael Manring and Jeff Haynes. A subtle energy and a feeling of mystery permeate this piece and yet it never loses its easy flow - a great start! "In the Bright Sky" is a soulful trio for guitar, English horn and Noah Wilding's haunting vocalizations - so very peaceful and serene! The title track is a trio for two guitars and cello, and the bowed cello provides a very effective contrast to the plucked guitar strings. I think this gorgeous piece could melt rocks! "Goodnight," a soothing lullaby for "kids" of any age, pairs Lindsay with Charlie Bisharat and his violin - definitely a favorite! As if it couldn't get any better, "Grasslands" is a trio for guitar, piano and fretless bass. Aaberg's part is subtle but is still magical! "So Far Away" is the guitar solo - a study in quiet emotion and deep introspection. "Birds of the Air" features guitar, English horn and gentle percussion, emulating the grace and freedom of birds in flight. Jill Haley's artistry never ceases to amaze me! Becoming darker and more mysterious, "Waypoint" is a trio for guitar, Lyricon (an electronic wind instrument) and voice. Very haunting and almost mournful, I can imagine this music being very effective in a movie soundtrack - another favorite! "Far Shore," a duet for guitar and English horn, expresses feelings of deep longing as well as a kind of dreamy melancholy. The album closes with "For Tomorrow," a trio for guitar, violin and piano that offers hope and encouragement as it soothes away any tension and stress you might be experiencing. Thanks for that, guys!

With You is an exceptionally beautiful album from start to finish! It is available to stream and download from Amazon and Apple Music/iTunes as well as from many of the streaming platforms including Pandora and Spotify. Very highly recommended!