How to Make A Paper Airplane

Andy Zipf
(Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh)

If Andy Zipf is an unfamiliar name to you, don’t feel bad. He’s still a relatively new name to many of us. However, if you choose to ignore this gentle spirit, you’re missing out. He’s been releasing albums, EPs, and singles since 2004, and has just unveiled his latest full-length project, How to Make A Paper Airplane. Zipf sings these ten highly personal songs with a vulnerable, transparent tone. He communicates with more of a whisper than a scream, sonically speaking, so his music demands your undivided attention. Once paid, that attention, is greatly rewarded by this stunning set of songs.

 

Many of these tracks begin with Zipf quietly fingerpicking an acoustic guitar. Vocally, he may remind you of Sufjan Stevens’ quieter works, while his guitar skills often recall Bob Bennett. If you’re a fan of Nick Drake’s brief but highly impactful work, you’ll likely enjoy what Zipf has created here.

 

Zipf has surrounded himself with an all-star group of backing musicians. The small collective includes Jennifer Condos on electric bass and drummer Jay Bellerose. These players have worked with many of your likely favorite musicians. Both recorded with Sam Phillips, for instance, and toured together with Ray LaMontagne. Although they’re much sought-after studio musicians, these two (along with upright bassist Dennis Crouch and keyboardist Tyler Chester,) shine more for their empathetic support, rather than any overt instrumental prowess. For example, Bellerose cracks the percussion right after Zipf sings, “Did you hear that snap?” during “Did You Know I Was A Ghost,” a sonic mirror of Zipf’s words.

 

Lyrically, Zipf takes his spiritual honesty to an extreme not often heard from songwriters of faith. One of the album’s best songs, “It’s Hard To Pray Anymore,” on which he confesses, “I don’t pray anymore” — is actually, well, like a prayer. Akin to a Psalm of David, Zipf sings about the brokenness all around him. In fact, through his words, he refers to a few of his own prayers. “I asked the Lord for some peace in my heart.” Later in the same song he recalls, “I asked the Lord for a pillar of fire,” which is a much more visual answer to prayer but is once again denied. Elsewhere, he sings of how his body is asleep, yet his mind is wide awake. This describes many of our nights during the COVID pandemic (or any other number of waking nightmares).

 

Immediately following that song, “God Coughed And Woke Me Up” finds Zipf having a mysterious conversation with God. In it, God is attempting to bring the comfort Zipf begged for during “It’s Hard To Pray Anymore.” Over a lovely acoustic guitar arrangement, accented by some quietly appropriate Bellerose cymbal work, Zipf is advised that control is an illusion, that he needs to stop and take a breath and ultimately just be still. To no avail, though, as Zipf admits, “I’m weeping Old Testament tears/For years.” It’s almost like an imaginary musical conversation between God and Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.

 

There are also instances of true beauty and warmth found on this album. The album’s title track is a rare piano-based piece. Over a sweet melody, much like a lullaby, Zipf recalls a joyful moment when he taught his young son how to make a paper airplane. We too often take for granted these simple moments of bliss. Not so here with Zipf, though – he knows these days will not last forever. But for now, this may have been the most amazing creation this little one has ever accomplished. And dad was right there to witness it all.

 

Zipf closes the album with yet another memory put to song, “The Rain And Car Door Alarm.” It’s built not on a drumbeat, but instead on that annoying beeping sound modern cars make whenever a door is left open. He admits to leaving the car door open and letting the rain come in. Indeed, this is a first-world problem. But where most of us would immediately whine and complain, Zipf hears music in the pitter-patter of the rain “on the rubber mat.” The track becomes a sort of love song, especially when Zipf sings, “I’m glad that we both like/The sound of rain falling.” Toward the piece’s end, God once again reminds him to be calm. “Rest easy child/Quiet your mind with music.” These last words are like a mantra, like a benediction. Many times, music is our only source of comfort. There is oftentimes that predictable ebb and flow of an instrumental piece, ending with the perfect coda. Perhaps this album is God’s way of reminding you, child, to rest easy and quiet your mind with music.

 

Don’t miss our special podcast conversation with Andy Zipf HERE 

Or his special exclusive live solo performance of “Did You Know I Was A Ghost” HERE