The Dreaming Spires – Searching for the supertruth (Clubhouse Records)
The Dreaming Spires are a pair of multi talented British brothers, Robin and Joe Bennett, who play most of the instruments themselves. (with the exception of drums) The lead vocals and harmonies are hauntingly high and lonesome and to oversimplify this tremendous recording, evoke the intense melodicism of the Byrds and Beach Boys of many years ago but with an added and dramatic quality that despite the above comparisons puts them pretty much in their own unique stylistic genre.
This is an album of tremendous songs, arrangements and playing but above even this excellence are those warm vocals, the exquisite wrap around harmonies and the intense wash of sound that evokes the very best of the 1960s ‘old timers.’ The instrumentation often has an underlying feel of 1960s psychedelia, nothing abrasive but just a feeling that gives a unique, slightly off centre perspective to these excellent songs that otherwise would fit into, or at least on the edge of, classic late 60s country rock. The impression I got, particularly on the occasions of a jangling guitar sound was that the foundation is one of Byrdsian country rock songs but then developed and added to with their command of the studio enabling an enhancement of the sense of drama.
This album contains some of the most melodic, haunting music you will hear anywhere. The fact that it relates closely to the 1960s but is equally a 21st century album with all the modernity that entails makes the Dreaming Spires pretty much unique.
Highlights are just about everything on the album although Easy Rider and If I Didn’t Know You, for me at least, gave an incredibly powerful evocation of the Byrds, whilst When The Magic Comes is reminiscent of early ‘High Llamas.’ A tremendous and varied recording that will envelop you in it’s warm and lush melodicism.
http://thedreamingspires.co.uk/
The Dreaming Spires are a pair of multi talented British brothers, Robin and Joe Bennett, who play most of the instruments themselves. (with the exception of drums) The lead vocals and harmonies are hauntingly high and lonesome and to oversimplify this tremendous recording, evoke the intense melodicism of the Byrds and Beach Boys of many years ago but with an added and dramatic quality that despite the above comparisons puts them pretty much in their own unique stylistic genre.
This is an album of tremendous songs, arrangements and playing but above even this excellence are those warm vocals, the exquisite wrap around harmonies and the intense wash of sound that evokes the very best of the 1960s ‘old timers.’ The instrumentation often has an underlying feel of 1960s psychedelia, nothing abrasive but just a feeling that gives a unique, slightly off centre perspective to these excellent songs that otherwise would fit into, or at least on the edge of, classic late 60s country rock. The impression I got, particularly on the occasions of a jangling guitar sound was that the foundation is one of Byrdsian country rock songs but then developed and added to with their command of the studio enabling an enhancement of the sense of drama.
This album contains some of the most melodic, haunting music you will hear anywhere. The fact that it relates closely to the 1960s but is equally a 21st century album with all the modernity that entails makes the Dreaming Spires pretty much unique.
Highlights are just about everything on the album although Easy Rider and If I Didn’t Know You, for me at least, gave an incredibly powerful evocation of the Byrds, whilst When The Magic Comes is reminiscent of early ‘High Llamas.’ A tremendous and varied recording that will envelop you in it’s warm and lush melodicism.
http://thedreamingspires.co.uk/
Leftover Salmon – High Country (Los Records)
After 25 years as a band it is still difficult to define Leftover Salmon despite their roots so obviously being in bluegrass and country. They are a bunch of virtuosic musicians who, certainly on this album, give the impression of a gifted ‘Jam band’ putting their own stamp on the aforementioned sub genres even including a bluesy feel on some songs. In some ways they have often reminded me of Little Feat, thanks to their quality and determination to play in their own way and of course helped by the fact that Bill Payne is now a member of the band. There are quite a few different strains of roots music on this excellent recording. The already mentioned sub genres are powerfully in evidence (including Jam band)but there is also mid tempo rootsy rock and country rock and yet despite all this there is no disruption to the flow and continuity of this entertaining album. The arrangements are excellent, as is the playing and the several excellent vocalists help to give an added stylistic diversity, with the harmonies as good as any band around. It is probably that variety, albeit within the narrow stylistic confines of each sub genre that does actually help to define Leftover Salmon. An excercise in high quality roots sub genres brought together with the Leftover Samon quality stamp.
http://leftoversalmon.com/
After 25 years as a band it is still difficult to define Leftover Salmon despite their roots so obviously being in bluegrass and country. They are a bunch of virtuosic musicians who, certainly on this album, give the impression of a gifted ‘Jam band’ putting their own stamp on the aforementioned sub genres even including a bluesy feel on some songs. In some ways they have often reminded me of Little Feat, thanks to their quality and determination to play in their own way and of course helped by the fact that Bill Payne is now a member of the band. There are quite a few different strains of roots music on this excellent recording. The already mentioned sub genres are powerfully in evidence (including Jam band)but there is also mid tempo rootsy rock and country rock and yet despite all this there is no disruption to the flow and continuity of this entertaining album. The arrangements are excellent, as is the playing and the several excellent vocalists help to give an added stylistic diversity, with the harmonies as good as any band around. It is probably that variety, albeit within the narrow stylistic confines of each sub genre that does actually help to define Leftover Salmon. An excercise in high quality roots sub genres brought together with the Leftover Samon quality stamp.
http://leftoversalmon.com/