Talk about a beautiful find! The music of Whiskey Priest sounds familiar; it's that of the comforting sound of love, peace, and the calm feels of a serene sunset. This three-piece is most notable for the gorgeous vocals of Noah Hall, but their music is so hushed and gentle, it's had to notice the other two in the band. That's not meant as a slight; the simplicity of the arrangements on Hungry wouldn't lead you to think that Hall is backed by a band. And yes, Whiskey Priest is all about Noah Hall; the man has the voice of an angel, and the delicate gossamer-like music behind him makes the whole darn thing seem utterly angelic. Hall never sounds overly dramatic; his voice has the same heavenly quality found in Jeff Buckley, but he never attempts Buckley’s operatic melodrama heights. The music itself is pretty traditional folk, but the band offers spacey, trippy sounds on "Souvenir" and "Saturn." Oh, and there's a Guns 'n' Roses cover, too. I will not tell you what it is; listen to the album and find out for yourself—it's gorgeous!

Listen To: "Saturn"

Hungry is out now on Bric-A-Brac Records

Labels: Bric a Brac, reviews w, Whiskey Priest

posted by joseph kyle @ 11:23 AM 0 comments

The World on Higher Downs Land Patterns

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

I bought the wonderful debut record of Wisconsin's The World on Higher Downs. It took me a while to find it, but found it I did, and other than one major flaw, this record is utterly flawless. (To get that one flaw out of the way: the new CD I bought had a scratch on the otherwise wonderful "Ascension And," and not only do I have to skip that song, but I also cannot return the album, as I bought it from an online dealer who does not take returns on import titles. Damn.)

Aside from having to program that song out, Land Patterns is a collection of beautiful, epic ambient instrumentals. The songs are languid, but not plodding; they are long--all but "Waterpath Street" clock in at least seven minutes--but the length merely allows the songs to expand and flourish in a way that makes listening an enjoyable experience. I've listened to the record at least half a dozen times, and each time I feel the record passes way too fast. The songs are also rather quiet; if you're wanting music that is hushed and will allow you to relax and meditate, you'll find that here.

It's sort of a shame that this wonderful record is somewhat obscure; a record as good as this should not be confined to a Japanese-only release. Still, you can find it, and find it you should; it will soothe your soul and will please your senses.

Listen To: "Her Static Will"

Land Patterns is available now from Plop

Labels: Plop Records, reviews w, The World on Higher Downs

posted by joseph kyle @ 1:24 PM 0 comments

Raymond Scott Woolson The View From Boggins Heights

Monday, January 7, 2008

I have a feeling that, somewhere in the "pile" of records I never reviewed, I have the initial release of Raymond Scott Woolson's self-released The View From Boggins Heights. I'm not going to look for it, though; I simply don't have the desire to wade through what is most assuredly a mediocre pile of music. Besides, it doesn't matter, as this 2007 reissue I just picked up suits me just fine.

Woolson's music is soft, simple, and quiet. It's an all-instrumental affair, and though it drifts nicely into the style of bliss-rock artists like Robin Guthrie, on "Six Hours One Friday," "Dear Wanda," and "Wheels Whirling On A Red Plastic Motorcycle," I honestly expected to hear singing, as the music seemed geared to accompanying vocals. Makes me wonder if Woolson has some singing in mind for the future, hasn't found the right vocalist to sing with him--or might not be quite confident enough to take the mic.
Overall, Woolson specializes in the electronica/pop/shoegazing mix that Ulrich Schnauss does quite well, only Woolson does not really remind you of Schnauss. When he gets into a melody, Woolson does his best to turn it into a mind-melding, head-expanding trip. The man does a good job of it, too, as its easy to get lost in the atmospheres of "Selina's Bonfire," and the closing epic "Wayfarers All" is just pure, unadulterated bliss.

Thankfully, though, Woolson doesn't fall into the sticking to one style trap, as it's not all blissful guitars; The View From Boggins Heights has enough sonic variety to hold your attention, even while you're being exposed to music that's very dreamy. The fast-paced "The Audubon Print For Ken" will wake up any sleepy-heads. "Dear Wanda" is a straight-up pop song, with instruments in the place of vocals; it has a Musak-meets-shoegazing feel that wouldn't sound out of place on Japancakes' cover of Loveless.

Apparently, Woolson reissued this to tide people over and get people ready for a big record he is releasing this year. After spending a cold, dreary weekend with The View From Boggins Heights I say--bring it on!

Listen To: "The Audubon Print for Ken"

Labels: Raymond Scott Woolson, reviews w

posted by joseph kyle @ 10:52 AM 0 comments

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