There’s a certain kind of light that hits in the late afternoon, just before the sun slips away at the end of the day, and Horizon lives entirely in that golden hour. Released by International Anthem, Horizon is a collaboration between Chicago-based trumpeter/producer Will Miller (of Resavoir) and guitarist/composer Matt Gold. Their 10-track album is a quietly radiant exploration of texture, warmth, and mood. Horizon began with the two musicians paying tribute to their love of Brazilian music of the 60s and 70s yet expanded to something larger. Miller and Gold, longtime friends and musical co-conspirators, approach Horizon not like bandmates but like painters sharing a canvas.
The opener, “Canopy,” gently sets the tone: nylon-string guitar shimmers over a bed of brushed percussion, both from Matt Gold, and fluttering saxophone from Tim Bennett. Additional textures are woven in with Miller on piano and organ while Macie Stewart provides hypnotic string arrangements. Each track on Horizon feels like its own scene, shaded with a rich palette of instrumentation. “Memento” leans into nostalgia with melodic fragments that swirl around soft keyboard phrases and trumpet lines, creating a feeling that’s both melancholic and hopeful. “Dewy” deepens the orchestration, introducing lush woodwinds and sweeping strings that stretch and swell like morning fog lifting. Oboe, flute, and French horn don’t just decorate the track; they serve to bring the whole track to life, providing layers that reveal themselves more on each subsequent listen.
Vocals are rare but impactful. On “Diversey Beach,” New York singer Mei Semones’ voice, paired with a breathtaking string arrangement, floats above a hazy rhythm that evokes the surreal stillness of a snowfall. That the song was written during a Chicago blizzard only adds to its strange serenity. Tracks like “Ahhh” and “Zero Gravity” reveal the duo’s fascination with space, both musical and metaphysical. There’s plenty of room in the arrangements, but nothing feels empty. Instead, you sense the patience behind each decision: a muted synth here, a brushstroke of pedal steel there. “Hazel Canyon” stands out with Gold’s pedal steel bending like sunlight through mist, hinting at the duo’s love for Brazilian music and vintage psych-pop without being too literal about it.
Throughout the album, the production, co-handled by Miller and Gold, emphasizes intimacy without ever sacrificing clarity. Ultimately, Horizon is an album that thrives on subtlety and restraint. Rather than pushing for grand statements, it leans into mood, tone, and atmosphere, offering something that deepens with repeated listens. Miller and Gold aren’t trying to reinvent anything—they’re simply following their shared instincts and musical language to see where it leads. The result is a quietly confident record that rewards attention without ever demanding it.
