What is it the makes an artist or group stand out from the countless others competing for our attention at any given moment? The answer may be different for everyone, but in my mind it always comes back to where the talent in question sources their material. When musicians find way to tap into the purest of human emotion and translate that feeling into a song it’s as if you’ve witnessed the most elaborate of magic tricks. For a few minutes you are able to feel more connected to the world at large because someone, or some group, has shared an experience or moment or emotion that you have felt as well. This is the kind of art the members of Ledges aspired to create with each release, and they have certainly achieved that goal with their debut album.

Today, we are thrilled to share the exclusive premiere of Ledges’ first LP, Homecoming, with the world. The album was originally planned as an EP, but after entering the studio the band realized that the story they wanted to tell was much larger than they initially thought. They took multiple treks to Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, where producer Will Hess helped shape the sound of the new album. The result is a record that sounds polished, but not in a way that robs the music of its vulnerability. You can sense the hard work that went into each track, as well as raw emotion that inspired their creation.

When asked about the record, Ledges vocalist Andy Hoffman told us:

“This album is the culmination of years of hard work. We’ve put everything we have into this record. The story it tells is straight from our hearts and we hope the people that listen to it can connect with it in a special way.”

You can stream Homecoming below. If you like what you hear, please take a moment to pre-order the album and support Ledges’ continued development.

Ledges will celebrate the release of Homecoming this fall with a string of performances. Current tour dates include:

Sept. 24 – Cincinnati @ Midpoint Music Festival
Oct. 19 – Chicago, IL @ Elbo Room
Oct. 20 – Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theater
Oct. 21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Mad Frog

Follow Substream on Twitter for additional updates as they become available.