After its revival in the 60s, folk music has fallen off the popular music radar. To combat that trend, it disguised itself in different genres, but now folk music is merely an afterthought, with its traits sporadically used in modern music.

Formerly one-half of Idiot Pilot, Seattle producer and musician Daniel Anderson has mounted a truly memorable solo project with The Ghost And The Grace, providing a perfect example of the “alternative folk” genre. It also exemplifies the phrase “solo effort,” as Anderson is single-handedly responsible for a vast majority of what you hear on the debut album, Behold! A Pale Horse.

Anderson shows off his tremendous musical talent on Behold!, providing almost all of the instrumentation found on the record. You can hear him playing the banjo, guitar, bass, piano, mandolin, percussion, accordion, glockenspiel and vibraphone as well as the string and horn arrangements. That is all sorts of impressive.

From the opening track “What Have I Done?,” The Ghost And The Grace hook you with vibrant melodies, perfected harmonies and an eclectic mix of instruments. Anderson switches between up-tempo spoken word and drawn-out sung lyrics (and sometimes straight-up screaming), establishing a stark contrast within a single track, a trend he continues throughout the record.

“How Far You Go” has a backwater folk feel with its banjo-laden verses and low-pitched lyrics, but musically explodes its refrains with alternative rock while showcasing Anderson’s vocal prowess. “Antlion” relaxes with its meandering banjo and laid-back vocals, leaving you satisfied and pacified. On “Genetics,” the single from the album, Anderson takes the alternative genre’s best attributes and adds his own subtle folk topping.

Throughout the thirteen tracks on Behold! A Pale Horse, Anderson mixes up styles and atmospheres, so despite the similarities, you never feel as if you’re listening to the same song twice. It’s a welcome pace-changer for anyone’s listening habits without taking the massive step into pure folk music.

The Ghost And The Grace will be performing on September 11th at El Corazon in Seattle, Washington. The following day you can catch Daniel and the band at The Old Foundry in nearby Bellingham for their CD release party.

Keep a look out for The Ghost And The Grace’s upcoming performances and snag merchandise, including their debut album, Behold! A Pale Horse from their website. Anderson also “graces” the site with his presence in the form of blogs and video entries.