Samples here on Amazon.
This is harmonica-driven delta blues, but a harmonica-driven delta blues with smoothly incorporated Tuvan throat singing, where one is not at all surprised to find cimbalom on one track and on the next, a man named Alexei playing a Tibetan instrument consisting of a bull scrotum and sheep knee bones, while the guitars wail out a slightly Irish-influenced melodic line. This is the sound of all of musical history being dropped into a moldy 1911 carnival tent in east Texas and given blues harps, Hawaiian steel guitars, and whatever other instruments they like best, formed into an orchestra and conducted by a mad New Orleans bluesman with the devil's gift for making all this into a cohesive whole instead of a jarring patchwork quilt.
To be fair, some tracks on this album are merely good. "Lost Fox Train" is a spare harmonica and wordless vocal piece that would probably be captivating on another album, but on this one I find myself impatient with it, wanting to hear more of the brilliance much of the rest of the album promises. Especially coming after "Everybody Loves You," a really enjoyable tune featuring, as well as the aforementioned bull scrotum, Celtic and Siberian influences. And I'm a little irked with the band's decision to put easily the two most compelling tracks as tracks number two and three. Not that there aren't other tracks that live up to the album's early promise—it's just too tempting to listen to "It Calls Me" and "Bahamut" over and over again, and never get to such greats as "Everybody Loves You" and "Who Walks In When I Walk Out."
Lyrically it's gifted but, in my uninformed opinion, could stand some more experience. There's a consistency to the meter and the rhyme scheme of Wade Schuman's original lyrics that makes them a tad too predictable, although still enjoyable and thought-provoking. And within that consistency of structure there are gems.
Lying on the withering grass,
Memories of lush decanting,
Waiting for this time to pass,
Even our shadows are panting...
I've tried for so very long
To push up some green sprout
All my efforts are very well spent
Blowing away in this aching drought...
"Dry Spell"
I have been having lots of fun with this album. Give it a listen and tell me what you think. |
