I just listened to this album for the first time today. The phrase that came to mind as I listened to the first few songs was "locked in." De Rocher has the knack of letting songs build from almost nothing into a locked in groove, never letting go of the laid-back easy feeling that seems to be the core of most of the tracks on this album.
As for the sound itself, I'd say it's part Beck, part Elliot Smith, part Sam Roberts, and mostly something I can't quite put my finger on.
The opening track, "Meditation #C.O.B". will get your attention. That song sets the tone for the rest of the album through it's dynamic build. The drums on this track are perfect. Perfect tone, perfect groove. Though this album has an acoustic base, it does not fail to rock! Most of the songs rely on a solid guitar line for a starting point, and some are incredibly "down home" and bluesy.
The next track, "Juniper Rose", basically employs the same strategy as it's predecessor, though it's a much slower build. Overall, De Rocher's voice, guitar, and background blend very naturally and nothing ever sounds out of place on this album.
Other highlights include:
- "Big Black Wall" - cool little flute part
- "Bama Bino Goodbye" - super-original guitar line
- "The Lizard Song" - just because the lyrics crack me up
Etienne De Rocher has put an excellent album together here, and covers many stylistic bases. I imagine his songwriting skills and musicianship will take him far.
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