HILLFOLK NOIR - POP SONGS FOR ELK
2015 - Self Released
Hillfolk Noir has always labeled their music 'Junkerdash,' which is probably as good a label as any for this totally unique and talented trio. Their tremendous new recording goes some way to starting a new genre, 'psychedelic junkerdash' because their experimentation, that whilst deeply rooted in old timey, is just as likely to show influences from the days of psychedelia. Don't think though that this is a psychedelic album. It is very far from that on a recording that is rooted in the music of many decades ago but Travis Ward is a free thinker when it comes to music and he is always likely to experiment and manipulate the music to match his own particular ideas at that time. In fact in many ways he is echoing those old timers of the 1920s but their influences were very limited thanks to the lack of technology and travel but they were certainly experimenting with sounds.
I'm talking about Travis who handles most lead vocals, guitars and banjo, but just as important within the trio is his wife Alison, who is also on vocals, as well as banjo, saw and washboard with Michael Waite having the unenviable task of laying a solid foundation with his upright bass, something he achieves superbly. Although not used a great deal on this recording Alison's extraordinarily dexterous playing of the musical saw has to be heard to be believed, giving the areas where it is used (track one in particular) a spooky haunting ethereal feel! Much of the music, whilst essentially 'hillbilly' in tone, has a strong experimental, if not psychedelic, tendency, added to which there is a raw, punky edge. Everything they play has a deep, powerful integrity that would seem to be at odds with the often casual feel, but that is only because they are so at home with their often idiosyncratic music and their own unlimited talents. The percussion on virtually every song is a major contributor to their distinctive sound and adds hugely to the appeal of their music. I defy anyone to not at least tap their feet or nod their head in time with the percussion alone and when you put all of these elements together what you get is a hugely appealing and highly entertaining sound.
I've seen them live several times over the years and have never failed to be astonished by their talent, originality and uniqueness, although by far the most powerful element in their music is the 'old timey' that they are steeped in whilst in every song, irrespective of the arrangement, there is still room for invention
This is Hillfolk Noir's sixth album release so far, added to which there was an equally excellent Travis Ward solo recording. On this new album most of the songwriting is handled by Travis with the traditional Little Sadie/Walkin' Boss fitting in well and unusually there is a solo writing credit for Alison of which more later. Album opener North Idaho Zombie Rag (Mix 8) sets the scene with a cacophonous piece of acoustic neo psychedelia as an introduction to a song that soon segues into a straighter, but excellent, banjo sound and far more upfront musical saw on a mid tempo folksy, old timey, hillbilly song. Travis's attacking lead vocal and Alison's harmony combine to bring a distinct edginess to the song and when you add Michael's upright bass solo you have a sound that makes the band unique and instantly recognizable. This is followed by Round I Sing/Mile On Up, an excellent 'hillbilly' duet with banjo and percussion. The repetitive nature of the song and in particular the percussion and bass is quite mesmerizing in its sparse intensity with Alison's often otherworldly vocal being the perfect foil for Travis masculinity and his driving banjo with that percussion making the song quite addictive. Woods On Fire is a terrific backwoods/hillbilly/bluesy song with Travis on lead vocal with Alisons hugely appealing harmony in many ways clashing but always adding to the huge appeal. Alison's percussion, as on many of the tracks, lends a unique element to this and many of their other songs. Whilst it is an open and upfront song there is a dark spooky element something that on reflection can be applied to many, or perhaps most, of their songs. Maybe it is just that 'spooky' should be substituted with 'otherworldly' because their music whilst not being alien as such does go a long way to emulating that which was probably played in the high Appalachians of a century or more ago. In many ways a world that is alien to us modern city dwellers. This atmosphere alone is enough to give their sound a uniqueness that most lack. There is a lovely dobro supporting Travis vocal on Hard Times, a bluesy song that often has a strong comedic element despite the less than cheerful lyrical content. That bluesiness mixed with their old timey proclivities is probably what sets them apart from their peers, almost giving the impression that their music comes from the time before recordings when poor white people would learn their licks from poor black people and sometimes vice versa. That may be romanticizing and over simplifying what must have been incredibly difficult lives but there is plenty of documentary evidence in support and Hillfolk Noir's music is certainly old timey, but importantly, old timey without the usual boundary constraints. Now we come to My Train, the song penned by Alison. It is a gorgeous and beautifully written 'leaving tale' and has a restrained dobro and percussion supporting Alison's lovely feminine lead vocal before being joined by Travis. The contrast with the other songs is quite incredible and will hopefully give Alison the confidence to take more lead vocals and put her hand to yet more songwriting. Finally, the closing track Sniffing Glue Blues joins with the album opener in bookending this tremendous recording with a little psychedelia as befits the songs subject matter!
This is another tremendous album by a trio that has made huge bulges in the boundaries of 'modern old timey' music. They seem able to experiment but at the same time continue working within the generic field that they call home, whilst setting the bar at a height very few can follow!
http://www.hillfolknoir.com/
Hillfolk Noir has always labeled their music 'Junkerdash,' which is probably as good a label as any for this totally unique and talented trio. Their tremendous new recording goes some way to starting a new genre, 'psychedelic junkerdash' because their experimentation, that whilst deeply rooted in old timey, is just as likely to show influences from the days of psychedelia. Don't think though that this is a psychedelic album. It is very far from that on a recording that is rooted in the music of many decades ago but Travis Ward is a free thinker when it comes to music and he is always likely to experiment and manipulate the music to match his own particular ideas at that time. In fact in many ways he is echoing those old timers of the 1920s but their influences were very limited thanks to the lack of technology and travel but they were certainly experimenting with sounds.
I'm talking about Travis who handles most lead vocals, guitars and banjo, but just as important within the trio is his wife Alison, who is also on vocals, as well as banjo, saw and washboard with Michael Waite having the unenviable task of laying a solid foundation with his upright bass, something he achieves superbly. Although not used a great deal on this recording Alison's extraordinarily dexterous playing of the musical saw has to be heard to be believed, giving the areas where it is used (track one in particular) a spooky haunting ethereal feel! Much of the music, whilst essentially 'hillbilly' in tone, has a strong experimental, if not psychedelic, tendency, added to which there is a raw, punky edge. Everything they play has a deep, powerful integrity that would seem to be at odds with the often casual feel, but that is only because they are so at home with their often idiosyncratic music and their own unlimited talents. The percussion on virtually every song is a major contributor to their distinctive sound and adds hugely to the appeal of their music. I defy anyone to not at least tap their feet or nod their head in time with the percussion alone and when you put all of these elements together what you get is a hugely appealing and highly entertaining sound.
I've seen them live several times over the years and have never failed to be astonished by their talent, originality and uniqueness, although by far the most powerful element in their music is the 'old timey' that they are steeped in whilst in every song, irrespective of the arrangement, there is still room for invention
This is Hillfolk Noir's sixth album release so far, added to which there was an equally excellent Travis Ward solo recording. On this new album most of the songwriting is handled by Travis with the traditional Little Sadie/Walkin' Boss fitting in well and unusually there is a solo writing credit for Alison of which more later. Album opener North Idaho Zombie Rag (Mix 8) sets the scene with a cacophonous piece of acoustic neo psychedelia as an introduction to a song that soon segues into a straighter, but excellent, banjo sound and far more upfront musical saw on a mid tempo folksy, old timey, hillbilly song. Travis's attacking lead vocal and Alison's harmony combine to bring a distinct edginess to the song and when you add Michael's upright bass solo you have a sound that makes the band unique and instantly recognizable. This is followed by Round I Sing/Mile On Up, an excellent 'hillbilly' duet with banjo and percussion. The repetitive nature of the song and in particular the percussion and bass is quite mesmerizing in its sparse intensity with Alison's often otherworldly vocal being the perfect foil for Travis masculinity and his driving banjo with that percussion making the song quite addictive. Woods On Fire is a terrific backwoods/hillbilly/bluesy song with Travis on lead vocal with Alisons hugely appealing harmony in many ways clashing but always adding to the huge appeal. Alison's percussion, as on many of the tracks, lends a unique element to this and many of their other songs. Whilst it is an open and upfront song there is a dark spooky element something that on reflection can be applied to many, or perhaps most, of their songs. Maybe it is just that 'spooky' should be substituted with 'otherworldly' because their music whilst not being alien as such does go a long way to emulating that which was probably played in the high Appalachians of a century or more ago. In many ways a world that is alien to us modern city dwellers. This atmosphere alone is enough to give their sound a uniqueness that most lack. There is a lovely dobro supporting Travis vocal on Hard Times, a bluesy song that often has a strong comedic element despite the less than cheerful lyrical content. That bluesiness mixed with their old timey proclivities is probably what sets them apart from their peers, almost giving the impression that their music comes from the time before recordings when poor white people would learn their licks from poor black people and sometimes vice versa. That may be romanticizing and over simplifying what must have been incredibly difficult lives but there is plenty of documentary evidence in support and Hillfolk Noir's music is certainly old timey, but importantly, old timey without the usual boundary constraints. Now we come to My Train, the song penned by Alison. It is a gorgeous and beautifully written 'leaving tale' and has a restrained dobro and percussion supporting Alison's lovely feminine lead vocal before being joined by Travis. The contrast with the other songs is quite incredible and will hopefully give Alison the confidence to take more lead vocals and put her hand to yet more songwriting. Finally, the closing track Sniffing Glue Blues joins with the album opener in bookending this tremendous recording with a little psychedelia as befits the songs subject matter!
This is another tremendous album by a trio that has made huge bulges in the boundaries of 'modern old timey' music. They seem able to experiment but at the same time continue working within the generic field that they call home, whilst setting the bar at a height very few can follow!
http://www.hillfolknoir.com/