Roots and Bells
Town Hall
8-out-of-10
I will forever be intrigued by bands that utilize standard instruments in a manner that seems new; interesting placement of a brass solo, mixing a mandolin with a crisp electric guitar, running melodies in unusual scales. Elements absent in most popular music seem to consistently make their way onto the recordings of independent artists. Enter Town Hall, an abstract mix of traditional Americana, folk, indie rock, and gypsy jazz.
Their release Roots and Bells is a collection of micro stories on a bed of curious genre experimentation. The opening track "Mary A. Longden" is a story written with hints of the classic Americana folk style, engulfed in cymbals and electric guitars. The trade off of male and female vocals, harmonies, orchestral fills and pounding drums move each song, allowing room for plenty of off the wall runs to chime in and please the ears.
The album overall is extraordinarily pleasing, switching between subtle and loud, simple and complex. It's the amount of innocuous additions that bring out levels of pure creativity. Clever instrumental re-imaginings and precise lyricism are the mortar that hold this whole thing together.
Town Hall should play more sock hops at town halls, that's my opinion. Find them at www.townhall.bandcamp.com
--SEAN CRAIB-PETKAU
Roll the Bones
Shakey Graves
7-out-of-10
A certain level of mysticism should accompany any good lo-fi alt-country blues-folk record, that's what I say. According to the bandcamp of Shakey Graves this record was released on June 4, 1987. I'm skeptical. Not that I have authority to be the judge of such matters, but everything about this record tells me that it was made as of late. Unless, of course, this fellow was decades ahead of his time back in 1987.
Not that the quality of Roll the Bones is top notch, it definitely could have been recorded on an old tape machine '87, but then again capturing that warm hollow sound is quite trendy in folk recordings these days. I think the idea is to elude to Roll the Bones being a rare capture of an omnipresent musician (also trendy). Mystery and confusion aside, Roll the Bones is a beautifully executed record. I think it's easiest to equate its atmosphere to a Saskatchewan summer evening.
It's heavy, the incessant hiss of the tape is constant like grass hoppers. Like late night humidity the guitar is thick, like the tickling breeze the vocals are light and whispered. It's campfire songs with the spirit of the west.
Other ambient gems include the small trips in guitar riffs that remind you it's raw, and the sound of the room in which it was recorded.
I suggest seeking out this record sick blues guitar and not worrying about its real release date, just enjoy it. It's best served with a whiskey, some friends, a fire, and the mysterious darkness of midnight. (Note: skip track 9)
--SEAN CRAIB-PETKAU
