Thrill Jockey and Drag City always seemed like the "smart wing" of Touch and Go Records to me,( Sort of like how Acura is to Honda, or Ferrari is to Fiat ). I have had some success with these labels in the past but I have had to overcome my love of Kiss, explosions, and Hammond organ solos from Jon Lord, and these anchors have made it hard for sometimes to "get" the two labels.
Maybe I am getting older but this new album is fascinating to me. The opening track False Spring reminds me of the "Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald". I am pretty sure that wasn't the intent but the song taps into archetypal themes while sounding completely current within an older "folk" element. I hear hints of British Psyche, Folk-Prog, Americana ( which has its roots in the British Isles as well) and modern Indie rock. Thankfully the last one is the least occuring ( or re-occuring if you will ). The band has unique senses of dynamics and the quiet parts of the album are just as moving the louder parts. A lurking impressionistic aura clouds the music in deeper mystery but not necessarily deeper meaning. The vocals are treated on some songs and regulate the words into a more instrumental role that add to the overall ambience of the record and give meaning more for how they are said then what is said. ( Sort of like Slayer, but this sounds nothing like that crew ). There is also a Dylan cover on here and the record was recorded at Lord Baltimore studios, so I think my prog/psyche/folk feelings aren't me being paranoid. ( I think these guys should do a cover of Sir Lord Baltimore's first album like Pussy Galore did with Exile on Main Street ).
Finding albums that honor and challenge tradition at the same time are always dear to me and this album does both. Please get two copies.
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