When I wrote about Bowerbirds' debut LP last year, I said that their music was entirely pleasant and listenable without doing anything much to make the listener really set up and take notice. They return here with a reduced line up, now just husband and wife Phil Moore and Beth Tacular, and to a certain extent more of the same. It all seems a little more focused and direct though.
Take opener 'House of Diamonds', a song advocating giving up the city life and moving to the country and embracing the natural world where "you are already free"..could be awful but the beguiling melody and Moore's strong, twisting vocal carries it through. There are moments too, when the rustic sounding acoustic guitars and accordions pause, allowing Moore and Tacular to share harmonies, their vocals mixing well together and creating an atmosphere something like early-Low.
Best of all though is 'Northen Lights', an exceptionally pretty love song presumably written by Moore for Tacular. It is both well written ("I don't expect a southern gril to know the northern lights") and very lovely ("All I want is your eyes, in the morning, as we wake for a short while").
The record drifts a little midway through before finishing with the sparse and thoughtful 'This Day'. Bowerbirds have a great album in them. That much is clear from the best stuff here and the spellbinding moments when Moore and Tacular sing together unaccompanied. I'd like to hear more of that, for now this is a fine and very listenable record.
7.8
['Upper Air' is out now on Dead Oceans]
Friday, 31 July 2009
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
new Mountain Goats LP...
Whilst wading through some pretty dull new releases that I have to review, came the news that a new Mountain Goats LP will arrive this Autumn.
Thank the Lord for that. Quite literally in fact, because every tMG album has a theme and this one is religion. The record is called 'The Life of the World to Come' and each track is named after a bible verse. Darnielle describes the theme as "twelve hard lessons I learned from the Bible". Jesus.
Anyway, as per the current trend, there is a free mp3 of one of the tracks ('Genesis 3:23') on the Mountain Goats website and it sounds good. Upbeat, with a full band sound and a gentle vocal...think a bit of 'The Sunset Tree' and a bit of 'Get Lonely'.
Album is out on October 5th, but I strongly suspect that there is going to be some kind of pre-order now, get the digital album instantly deal with this one. Just a hunch.
Thank the Lord for that. Quite literally in fact, because every tMG album has a theme and this one is religion. The record is called 'The Life of the World to Come' and each track is named after a bible verse. Darnielle describes the theme as "twelve hard lessons I learned from the Bible". Jesus.
Anyway, as per the current trend, there is a free mp3 of one of the tracks ('Genesis 3:23') on the Mountain Goats website and it sounds good. Upbeat, with a full band sound and a gentle vocal...think a bit of 'The Sunset Tree' and a bit of 'Get Lonely'.
Album is out on October 5th, but I strongly suspect that there is going to be some kind of pre-order now, get the digital album instantly deal with this one. Just a hunch.
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Zak Sally's Fear of Song - first listen
Zak's album is now available to buy via his website http://lamano21.com/
Also on the site is a quite brilliant description of the record, written by the man himself. The album is completely handmade, signed and numbered and will be posted out by Zak..the whole thing is a one man project. He instructs anyone wanting to review the record to buy the $7 download as "i'm probably broker than you are". So I did that, with the intention of ordering the record too (unless I completely hated it, which of course I don't)and I've now done that.
I'll write a proper review of this when I get the physical version, when someone has put so much effort into the whole thing, it seems a shame to review a $7 download. Anyway, this isn't the sort of record that you can really gives marks out of ten to, that would defeat the whole concept.
'Fear of Song' is a quite marvellous thing. Anyone who loved the part played in Low will want to hear this. It is a set of spontaneous, honest, big-hearted pieces of music. Not polished, not lush, not pretty but raw and true. I was expected a louder more aggressive record but am pleased at the mix of fiery, feedback drenched rockers and acoustic laments.
Buy this. It is possibly the least cynical and least calculated release of the year. One man in a room opening his heart and making some music from nothing. Great stuff.
Also on the site is a quite brilliant description of the record, written by the man himself. The album is completely handmade, signed and numbered and will be posted out by Zak..the whole thing is a one man project. He instructs anyone wanting to review the record to buy the $7 download as "i'm probably broker than you are". So I did that, with the intention of ordering the record too (unless I completely hated it, which of course I don't)and I've now done that.
I'll write a proper review of this when I get the physical version, when someone has put so much effort into the whole thing, it seems a shame to review a $7 download. Anyway, this isn't the sort of record that you can really gives marks out of ten to, that would defeat the whole concept.
'Fear of Song' is a quite marvellous thing. Anyone who loved the part played in Low will want to hear this. It is a set of spontaneous, honest, big-hearted pieces of music. Not polished, not lush, not pretty but raw and true. I was expected a louder more aggressive record but am pleased at the mix of fiery, feedback drenched rockers and acoustic laments.
Buy this. It is possibly the least cynical and least calculated release of the year. One man in a room opening his heart and making some music from nothing. Great stuff.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Single of the Week...
Firstly, a quick word for the England cricket selectors..... "Beg Marcus Trescothick to return"...
Secondly, this week's single of the week is...
Zak Sally 'Why We Hide'
Loving this single. Zak describes it best himself when he says it is the sound of "one man clanging". It is also noisy, discordant, ramshakle but also strangely tuneful and catchy. It has some nice hand-claps midway through, which remind me of Zak's attempts to encourage audience participation when Low played 'La La La Song'. It is what you'd expect really, three minutes of U.S alt.rock noise. You get the impression from this that Zak had a lot to do with Low's 'The Great Destroyer'.
It is out now on pink vinyl from Subpop, you get a download voucher with the vinyl (or at least, I did).
The album is due out round about now on Zak's own label, although as yet there is no link to buy it on his website.
Secondly, this week's single of the week is...
Zak Sally 'Why We Hide'
Loving this single. Zak describes it best himself when he says it is the sound of "one man clanging". It is also noisy, discordant, ramshakle but also strangely tuneful and catchy. It has some nice hand-claps midway through, which remind me of Zak's attempts to encourage audience participation when Low played 'La La La Song'. It is what you'd expect really, three minutes of U.S alt.rock noise. You get the impression from this that Zak had a lot to do with Low's 'The Great Destroyer'.
It is out now on pink vinyl from Subpop, you get a download voucher with the vinyl (or at least, I did).
The album is due out round about now on Zak's own label, although as yet there is no link to buy it on his website.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Noah and The Whale 'The First Days of Spring'
This band passed me by when they released their debut LP last year. It all seemed a bit light and overly jolly. Things appear to have changed though...
The first track from their second album 'The First Days of Spring' is available to download for free from the Noah and The Whale website and it is stunningly good. Tense, orchestral and lovelorn, it is the sound of a band making a huge jump in quality and stature. Looking forward to hearing the album.
The first track from their second album 'The First Days of Spring' is available to download for free from the Noah and The Whale website and it is stunningly good. Tense, orchestral and lovelorn, it is the sound of a band making a huge jump in quality and stature. Looking forward to hearing the album.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Magnolia Electric Co. 'Josephine'
Back in 2003, under the guise of Songs:Ohia, Jason Molina made one of the great alt.country records, 'Magnolia Electric Co'. As near as anything gets these days to in-his-prime Neil Young, it was an album of power and grace, a beautiful, searing complete piece of music, that was just about perfect. I played it over and over on hot summer nights that year, with the windows open. It was all good and I thought Molina would just get better and better.
Since then however, his output has been somewhat patchy. Largely sidestepping the powerful stuff and concentrating on mood pieces or sketchy country numbers, he hasn't made a great album since. 'Josephine' arrives with a lot of fanfare, high hopes and a back story. MeCo bassist Evan Farell died whilst ideas for this album were being forumulated and the finished album serves as a tribute to him and his hopes for the record. It is a concept piece of sorts, the loss of 'Josephine' representing the loss of Evan and Molina centres most of these songs of themes of loneliness, loss and heartbreak.
But the first thing you notice when you hear opener 'O Grace' is a fuller and more varied sound. 'O Grace' is upbeat and accessible with harmonies on the chorus and sax and piano used. The first few tracks continue down this path, with the title number being catchy, short and snappy with some crashing guitar, although the lyrics are sombre "oh what a fool I've been".
He follows this with several dusky, acoustic numbers that would not be out of place on a Molina solo record, lonely and bruised. There is more variety to come though, 'Hope Dies Last' employs harmonies and a great bassline, 'The Handing Down' kicks off with a fiery guitar riff and settles down before producing some satisfying feedback mid-song, it will satisfy those who crave the riffs Molina gave us on numbers like 'The Dark Don't Hide It'.
Molina also gives us the two most unlikely songs of his career, to varying success. 'Little Sad Eyes' is a organ-led, doo-wop style interlude, sounding lazy and inconsequential next to some of the more considered material and 'An Arrow In The Gale' is an interesting closing track, short and sweet and with Beach Boys harmonies and split vocals.
Whatever styles and ideas Molina tries on 'Josephine' the lyrical themes remain the same. "I've been as lonely as the world's first ghost' he sings and the overwhelming themes are of loss and regret. This isn't as gloomy as it sounds and the sound of the record, particularly with the frequently used harmonies ("Oh Josephine" is a recurring refrain) presents a sense of hope.
After years of seemingly avoided making a straightforward album, by releasing various live albums, compilations and boxsets, Molina has shown that he is perfectly capable of producing a consistent, cohesive LP. 'Josephine' references all of the different phases of his career, whilst being the most varied and full recording he has produced to date. This doesn't quite scale the heights of 'Magnolia Electric Co' but it is a very good, thoughtful and passionate record.
8.5
['Josephine' is out now on Secretly Canadian on cd and lp. Magnolia Electric Co play UK dates in September.]
Since then however, his output has been somewhat patchy. Largely sidestepping the powerful stuff and concentrating on mood pieces or sketchy country numbers, he hasn't made a great album since. 'Josephine' arrives with a lot of fanfare, high hopes and a back story. MeCo bassist Evan Farell died whilst ideas for this album were being forumulated and the finished album serves as a tribute to him and his hopes for the record. It is a concept piece of sorts, the loss of 'Josephine' representing the loss of Evan and Molina centres most of these songs of themes of loneliness, loss and heartbreak.
But the first thing you notice when you hear opener 'O Grace' is a fuller and more varied sound. 'O Grace' is upbeat and accessible with harmonies on the chorus and sax and piano used. The first few tracks continue down this path, with the title number being catchy, short and snappy with some crashing guitar, although the lyrics are sombre "oh what a fool I've been".
He follows this with several dusky, acoustic numbers that would not be out of place on a Molina solo record, lonely and bruised. There is more variety to come though, 'Hope Dies Last' employs harmonies and a great bassline, 'The Handing Down' kicks off with a fiery guitar riff and settles down before producing some satisfying feedback mid-song, it will satisfy those who crave the riffs Molina gave us on numbers like 'The Dark Don't Hide It'.
Molina also gives us the two most unlikely songs of his career, to varying success. 'Little Sad Eyes' is a organ-led, doo-wop style interlude, sounding lazy and inconsequential next to some of the more considered material and 'An Arrow In The Gale' is an interesting closing track, short and sweet and with Beach Boys harmonies and split vocals.
Whatever styles and ideas Molina tries on 'Josephine' the lyrical themes remain the same. "I've been as lonely as the world's first ghost' he sings and the overwhelming themes are of loss and regret. This isn't as gloomy as it sounds and the sound of the record, particularly with the frequently used harmonies ("Oh Josephine" is a recurring refrain) presents a sense of hope.
After years of seemingly avoided making a straightforward album, by releasing various live albums, compilations and boxsets, Molina has shown that he is perfectly capable of producing a consistent, cohesive LP. 'Josephine' references all of the different phases of his career, whilst being the most varied and full recording he has produced to date. This doesn't quite scale the heights of 'Magnolia Electric Co' but it is a very good, thoughtful and passionate record.
8.5
['Josephine' is out now on Secretly Canadian on cd and lp. Magnolia Electric Co play UK dates in September.]
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Mark Eitzel UK Tour Dates
As promised a while ago, below are the Autumn UK tour dates from genius singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel. From what I understand, Mark will be playing AMC songs at these shows and will also be playing the piano each night. These gigs are essential, Mark's show at Dingwalls in 2002 remains the greatest gig I have ever attended - I cannot remember ever experiencing so many emotions at one show. Support comes from The Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay. Most dates, including the London one, don't go on sale til next week:
4.10.09 - Exeter -Phoenix
6.10.09 - Winchester – Tower Arts Centre
7.10.09 - London - St Giles in the Fields
8.10.09 – Brighton – The Basement
3.11.09 - Bristol – St Bonaventures
4.11.09 - Birmingham – Glee Club
5.11.09 – Manchester - St Margaret's Church
7.11.09 – Edinburgh – Cabaret Voltaire
8.11.09 – Newcastle – Cluny 2
9.11.09 – Leeds - Brudnell Social Club
4.10.09 - Exeter -Phoenix
6.10.09 - Winchester – Tower Arts Centre
7.10.09 - London - St Giles in the Fields
8.10.09 – Brighton – The Basement
3.11.09 - Bristol – St Bonaventures
4.11.09 - Birmingham – Glee Club
5.11.09 – Manchester - St Margaret's Church
7.11.09 – Edinburgh – Cabaret Voltaire
8.11.09 – Newcastle – Cluny 2
9.11.09 – Leeds - Brudnell Social Club
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Single of the Week
My 'single of the week' this week is 'The Swimmer' by Alice Gun.
I'd never heard of Alice before this and I admit I was attracted by the song title (being a swimmer myself). Glad I checked it out though, cos its a lovely, tense, atmospheric piece with cello, accordion and a assured vocal. Piano-led b side 'Minty Fresh' is almost as good.
One to watch for certain. Turns out this is Alice's debut single. She's a classically trained multi-instrumentalist and signed to Ambiguous Records. 'The Swimmer' is out now on vinyl and digital, you can listen at www.alicegun.com and I suggest that you do.
I'd never heard of Alice before this and I admit I was attracted by the song title (being a swimmer myself). Glad I checked it out though, cos its a lovely, tense, atmospheric piece with cello, accordion and a assured vocal. Piano-led b side 'Minty Fresh' is almost as good.
One to watch for certain. Turns out this is Alice's debut single. She's a classically trained multi-instrumentalist and signed to Ambiguous Records. 'The Swimmer' is out now on vinyl and digital, you can listen at www.alicegun.com and I suggest that you do.
Zak Sally returns with single and LP
Former Low bassist Zak Sally returns with a new single and LP in the next couple of weeks.
Zak was always the star of Low as far as I was concerned and I enjoyed 'My Secret World', the song that he made available last year as a preview of the album to come. The LP is 'Fear Of Song', the title apparently references Sally's dilemma over whether to continue to make music after the Low split. It will be self-released, I understand but the first single 'Why We Hide' is out on 7" only via Sub Pop next week. Incidentally the b-side is the superbly titled 'When I Said I Missed You I Just Meant My Aim Was Off (The Quiet Life)'.
More news about the release-specifics of 'Fear Of Song' when I get it...
Zak was always the star of Low as far as I was concerned and I enjoyed 'My Secret World', the song that he made available last year as a preview of the album to come. The LP is 'Fear Of Song', the title apparently references Sally's dilemma over whether to continue to make music after the Low split. It will be self-released, I understand but the first single 'Why We Hide' is out on 7" only via Sub Pop next week. Incidentally the b-side is the superbly titled 'When I Said I Missed You I Just Meant My Aim Was Off (The Quiet Life)'.
More news about the release-specifics of 'Fear Of Song' when I get it...
Friday, 10 July 2009
The Duckworth Lewis Method 'A Methodology'
Music and cricket, two of my favourite things, so what could be better than an album about cricket? There's never been one before, to the best of my knowledge, but now Neil Hannon and Thomas Walsh have created one and released it, just in time for the Ashes.
Naming the album after a very complex cricket scoring system may put off those fans of Hannon's music who do not also love cricket, but they shouldn't be scared, this is a short album of lush pop songs, plenty of swooning strings, big choruses and harmonies..the songs just happen to be about The Summer Game.
For the most part this works well. 'The Age of Revolution' is a catchy, upbeat number reflecting on the changes to cricket in recent years ("always denied entry by the English gentry/ now we're driving Bentleys and playing 20/20"). This is the first single and seems to have been the template.
Writing a whole set of albums on the topic of cricket does seem to have been a challenge for Hannon though. 'The Sweet Spot' uses a double meaning for the title but the song has nothing whatsoever to do with cricket and 'The Nightwatchman' hints at the anxiety suffered by batsmen who are 'not out' at the end of a day's play, but seems more like a desperate love song by the end.
The undoubted highlight though is an absolutely hilarious account of Mike Gatting's dismissal by Shane Warne in the 1993 Ashes, from the perspective of Gatting himself. Over an jaunty piano tune, we hear the funniest lyrics of the year so far, including an inevitable reference to a cheese roll. Totally priceless. Would love to hear what Gatt would make of it.
All in all, this is a pleasant album with some nice string arrangements and some catchy melodies. I do feel that they could have gone further with some more interesting cricket themes and stories, but that's because I love my cricket just as much as I love my music. An enjoyable little album for the Summer.
6.7
['The Duckworth Lewis Method' is out now on Divine Comedy Records. The DLM play Rough Trade East on Monday 13th July at 7pm]
Naming the album after a very complex cricket scoring system may put off those fans of Hannon's music who do not also love cricket, but they shouldn't be scared, this is a short album of lush pop songs, plenty of swooning strings, big choruses and harmonies..the songs just happen to be about The Summer Game.
For the most part this works well. 'The Age of Revolution' is a catchy, upbeat number reflecting on the changes to cricket in recent years ("always denied entry by the English gentry/ now we're driving Bentleys and playing 20/20"). This is the first single and seems to have been the template.
Writing a whole set of albums on the topic of cricket does seem to have been a challenge for Hannon though. 'The Sweet Spot' uses a double meaning for the title but the song has nothing whatsoever to do with cricket and 'The Nightwatchman' hints at the anxiety suffered by batsmen who are 'not out' at the end of a day's play, but seems more like a desperate love song by the end.
The undoubted highlight though is an absolutely hilarious account of Mike Gatting's dismissal by Shane Warne in the 1993 Ashes, from the perspective of Gatting himself. Over an jaunty piano tune, we hear the funniest lyrics of the year so far, including an inevitable reference to a cheese roll. Totally priceless. Would love to hear what Gatt would make of it.
All in all, this is a pleasant album with some nice string arrangements and some catchy melodies. I do feel that they could have gone further with some more interesting cricket themes and stories, but that's because I love my cricket just as much as I love my music. An enjoyable little album for the Summer.
6.7
['The Duckworth Lewis Method' is out now on Divine Comedy Records. The DLM play Rough Trade East on Monday 13th July at 7pm]
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Mark Eitzel to release countless new records imminently...
Possibly TracksandGigs' favourite songwriter of all time, Mark Eitzel, has blogged about a string of upcoming releases.
He is putting the finishing touches to a solo album, after that he is due to work on some songs with Peter Buck, he is also about to record a tour cd for his Autumn European tour...and...there is the prospect of a new AMC album in 2010.
Thanks Mark, that's enough to keep us going for a while!
In other news, I am currently penning a review of Neil Hannon's 'Duckworth Lewis Method' cricket concept album, which contains possibly the funniest song I have ever heard.
also... you can now pre-order the new Magnolia Electric Co album 'Josephine' from Secretly Canadian and receive an instant download of the whole album. Bargain.
More tomorrow..
He is putting the finishing touches to a solo album, after that he is due to work on some songs with Peter Buck, he is also about to record a tour cd for his Autumn European tour...and...there is the prospect of a new AMC album in 2010.
Thanks Mark, that's enough to keep us going for a while!
In other news, I am currently penning a review of Neil Hannon's 'Duckworth Lewis Method' cricket concept album, which contains possibly the funniest song I have ever heard.
also... you can now pre-order the new Magnolia Electric Co album 'Josephine' from Secretly Canadian and receive an instant download of the whole album. Bargain.
More tomorrow..
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Hope Sandoval returns!
Back in the early 90s, Mazzy Star were one of my favourite bands. It seems a bit strange actually to call them a band, since they consisted of David Roback's bluesy guitar sound and Hope Sandoval's dusky voice. They did produce some magic though and anyone who has ever heard Sandoval sing has been longing for some new material from her since a solitary solo album appeared in 2002.
Well, she's back! 'Hope Sandoval and The Warm Inventions' release an album 'Through The Devil Softly' in September and a single 'Blanchard' in August. TracksandGigs has heard 'Blanchard' and can confirm that it is a slow, sultry ballad with acoustic and slide guitar and sounds marvellous.
In other Sandoval news, this time which T&G finds a little harder to believe, Sandoval is planning a tour and Mazzy Star are putting the finishing touches to their long awaited fourth record. From experience, we'll believe both of those events when we see them...
Well, she's back! 'Hope Sandoval and The Warm Inventions' release an album 'Through The Devil Softly' in September and a single 'Blanchard' in August. TracksandGigs has heard 'Blanchard' and can confirm that it is a slow, sultry ballad with acoustic and slide guitar and sounds marvellous.
In other Sandoval news, this time which T&G finds a little harder to believe, Sandoval is planning a tour and Mazzy Star are putting the finishing touches to their long awaited fourth record. From experience, we'll believe both of those events when we see them...
Saturday, 4 July 2009
The Low Anthem 'Oh My God, Charlie Darwin'
There are times, rare but glorious, when you hear an artist's music for the first time and you know that you will most likely listen to their music for the rest of your life. This happened to me with Tindersticks, when I first heard Innocence Mission's 'Befriended' and when I saw Low play live in London...now it has happened to me again after a mere few days of listening to The Low Anthem's second album 'Oh My God, Charlie Darwin'.
On opener 'Charlie Darwin', singer Ben Knox Miller uses a Bon Iver style falsetto to relate a tale of a drowning world.."oh my god, the water's all around us...oh my god, life is cold and formless" over a sparse, gentle melody. It is stunning and hymn-like, an incredible opener.
They follow with two more ballads, the best of which 'Ticket Taker' is a crushed love song from the perspective of the guy collecting tickets for entry onto a modern day ark which is saving people from the aforementioned floods. Knox Miller uses his natural voice here, a strong singer-songwriter voice and the added harmonica make this the first real Americana sounding track on the record. You will be enthralled by the lyrics at this stage though.
They change direction here and Knox Miller reveals the third different singing voice used on this record. This time, it is a throaty roar as the band move through two Stones-esque rockers with all the exhuberance of Dylan circa 'Highway 61 Revisted', rousing rootsy stompers both.
The pace changes again for perhaps the best track of all. '(Don't) Tremble' is a beautiful, stripped down ballad with acoustic guitar in one speaker and birdsong in the other. Knox Miller sings of staying strong, not giving up...human resilience ("...do not tremble, do not sweat/ for where then would you get?"). His voice is like a whisper in your ear, haunting but comforting.
It is hard to see how the record could have faltered after reaching such heights and thankfully it doesn't. What follows includes 'Champion Angel', the album's key rocker, a joyous Arcade Fire/Walkmen style epic with some glorious guitar and enough of a chorus to have you singing along and even considering punching the air. There are another couple of low-fi ballads and a reworking of 'To Ohio' to finish.
The songwriting on 'Oh My God Charlie Darwin' is exemplary. Individually the songs are poetic, well written and affecting. Collectively the record tells a story which is touching, life affirming and a comment about aspects of the modern world. The writing is vivid enough to allow you to conjure up images in your mind of some of the scenes described, you will care about the record and the people within the stories.
The music itself is often low key, allowing the words to take centre stage but there is great innovation too. 'Oh My God Charlie Darwin' is a record to treasure. Containing echoes of the work of some of the all time great songwriters, this is a magnificent album - one of the very finest that I have heard in the last decade.
9.8
['Oh My God, Charlie Darwin' is out now on Bella Union. The Low Anthem tour the UK in September]
On opener 'Charlie Darwin', singer Ben Knox Miller uses a Bon Iver style falsetto to relate a tale of a drowning world.."oh my god, the water's all around us...oh my god, life is cold and formless" over a sparse, gentle melody. It is stunning and hymn-like, an incredible opener.
They follow with two more ballads, the best of which 'Ticket Taker' is a crushed love song from the perspective of the guy collecting tickets for entry onto a modern day ark which is saving people from the aforementioned floods. Knox Miller uses his natural voice here, a strong singer-songwriter voice and the added harmonica make this the first real Americana sounding track on the record. You will be enthralled by the lyrics at this stage though.
They change direction here and Knox Miller reveals the third different singing voice used on this record. This time, it is a throaty roar as the band move through two Stones-esque rockers with all the exhuberance of Dylan circa 'Highway 61 Revisted', rousing rootsy stompers both.
The pace changes again for perhaps the best track of all. '(Don't) Tremble' is a beautiful, stripped down ballad with acoustic guitar in one speaker and birdsong in the other. Knox Miller sings of staying strong, not giving up...human resilience ("...do not tremble, do not sweat/ for where then would you get?"). His voice is like a whisper in your ear, haunting but comforting.
It is hard to see how the record could have faltered after reaching such heights and thankfully it doesn't. What follows includes 'Champion Angel', the album's key rocker, a joyous Arcade Fire/Walkmen style epic with some glorious guitar and enough of a chorus to have you singing along and even considering punching the air. There are another couple of low-fi ballads and a reworking of 'To Ohio' to finish.
The songwriting on 'Oh My God Charlie Darwin' is exemplary. Individually the songs are poetic, well written and affecting. Collectively the record tells a story which is touching, life affirming and a comment about aspects of the modern world. The writing is vivid enough to allow you to conjure up images in your mind of some of the scenes described, you will care about the record and the people within the stories.
The music itself is often low key, allowing the words to take centre stage but there is great innovation too. 'Oh My God Charlie Darwin' is a record to treasure. Containing echoes of the work of some of the all time great songwriters, this is a magnificent album - one of the very finest that I have heard in the last decade.
9.8
['Oh My God, Charlie Darwin' is out now on Bella Union. The Low Anthem tour the UK in September]
The Low Anthem 'Oh My God, Charlie Darwin'
All bets may just be off.
I am sure I have enjoyed an album on first play more than this one, I must have, I just can't remember a particular occasion. Not for a long time at least.
A few more plays later and I am sure of it, this record is stunning. I need to find out more about who The Low Anthem actually are, but this supreme collection of dusty hymns, sparse sketches and exhuberant rockers is maybe the record of the year so far...at least right up there with the Bill Callahan album.
I am totally floored by '(Don't) Tremble' in particular. A mix of acoustic guitar in one speaker and birdsong and water in the other, with a whispered vocal..
"If your pilot light should die
Do not quake and do not bark
You will find the spark
If your tree should bare no fruit
Do not turn and do not spill
You are beautiful"
It is haunting, effortless and comforting.
There is more, so much more, but I will save this for the full review, which will come soon. I have also just discovered that I have just missed them playing The Union Chapel....please please return to London!
I am sure I have enjoyed an album on first play more than this one, I must have, I just can't remember a particular occasion. Not for a long time at least.
A few more plays later and I am sure of it, this record is stunning. I need to find out more about who The Low Anthem actually are, but this supreme collection of dusty hymns, sparse sketches and exhuberant rockers is maybe the record of the year so far...at least right up there with the Bill Callahan album.
I am totally floored by '(Don't) Tremble' in particular. A mix of acoustic guitar in one speaker and birdsong and water in the other, with a whispered vocal..
"If your pilot light should die
Do not quake and do not bark
You will find the spark
If your tree should bare no fruit
Do not turn and do not spill
You are beautiful"
It is haunting, effortless and comforting.
There is more, so much more, but I will save this for the full review, which will come soon. I have also just discovered that I have just missed them playing The Union Chapel....please please return to London!
Friday, 3 July 2009
still alive
just a quick post to say sorry for the lack of updates, I have had the busiest week at work ever and have had little time for music listening, let alone writing about it.
when I have found time, I've mostly been enjoying the new Wilco, as well as various Innocence Mission albums. Am contemplating buying the Low Anthem and Bowerbirds records but have to assess funds. I have, however, purchased Neil Hannon's 'Duckworth Lewis Method' cricket themed album and will be writing about that soon. If the music is half as good as the concept, it'll be great.
back to work...
when I have found time, I've mostly been enjoying the new Wilco, as well as various Innocence Mission albums. Am contemplating buying the Low Anthem and Bowerbirds records but have to assess funds. I have, however, purchased Neil Hannon's 'Duckworth Lewis Method' cricket themed album and will be writing about that soon. If the music is half as good as the concept, it'll be great.
back to work...
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