| CD REVIEW The Acorn |
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Band : The Acorn Ottawa, Ontario based Canadian Indie Rock/ Folk outfit The Acorn has been around since 2003 and in that time pleasured its fans with a steady stream of releases, starting with 2004’s full-length debut The Pink Ghosts. In 2005 and 2006 followed the EPs Blankets and Tin Fist, and in 2007 came full-length album Glory Hope Mountain, the first release by the band to be issued through British label Bella Union (in Autumn 2008). Now if you’ve read in some publication that the new album is the band’s sophomore full-length, you already know that’s not quite truthful. Besides, after the 2007 album came a split 12-inch album with Ohbijou (I understood it’s a related act) simply titled The Acorn + Ohbijou, and the same year (2008) saw the release of Heron Act (I’m not sure whether that’s a full-length, but asuming so since there’s no info on the contrary). In North-America, by the way, the band has its releases issued through Paper Bag Records, though they also have stuff out on Kelp Records. In 2007 the band’s line-up featured mainstay Rolf Clausener (lead vocals & guitar, also the lyricist and band’s main songwriter), guitarist/ visual Artist Howie Tsui, bassist Jeff Debutte, plus Montréal keyboardist/ vixen Keiko Devaux (joined in 2006) and multi-instrumentalist/ hype man Shaun Weadick (joined in 2007), but the latter two have since been replaced by Jeffrey Malecki and Pat Johnson (and I’m not sure which instrument(s) either of these two play). Oh wait, just recently Tsui’s been replaced as well, by one Steven Lappano. On their new album, which also happens to be my introduction to the band, I find the guys moving somewhat weirdly from an opening track (“Cobbled From Dust”) that has both Folk and Psychedelic afinities (electric guitars played with a lot of feedback) with a certain axiety and restlessness built in, to a somewhat “normal” electric/ acoustic Folk Rock track that sees the band move in far calmer and at ease waters. The mood is even calmer on the ensuing “Misplaced”. With its provocative title, “I Made The Law” sounds somewhat rebellious, and the build-up certainly justifies that assessment, as does the use of the “heaviest” guitar passages on the album! The ensuing “Crossed Wires” brings a nice Rock Folk song with a mood that is pretty constant throughout, a mixture of vocal serenity and instrumental driven-ness that is none to hard, yet also none to soft. For the ensuing “On The Line” the mood is turned back somewhat more, and as a result the music is back to (almost) acoustic Folk, which includes the use of some cello (or keyboard with that sound). After that comes “Bobcat Gold Wraith”, an “energetic” songs which even sees the use of some horns… Alright…I could go on and tell you about the remaining 4 tracks individually (and perhaps I even should) but here’s the low-down: these guys are a bit fickle about the music they play, and avoid falling into the confines of an easily definable category. In stead, they’re versatile, moving from calmer tracks that dó see some etheric electric guitar being used as well as acoustics (when indeed the songs ain’t complétely acoustic) to more energetic songs with a variety of paces. The thing is, your one-track minded Folk or Indie Rock fan will definitely have some trouble liking this band! On the other hand, the more open-minded may like the mood swings very much, and I’m sure they may grow into that after having listened to the album a couple of times. I would say thàt is definitely a must (the multiple listening sessions, right!?), because one needs to let the material in these 11 tracks grow on one, let it sink in gradually with each listening session, until the versatile music becomes as familiar as the inside of one’s pockets. If you’re up to it, you’ve got two songs off the new album posted alongside 7 off previous releases. Haven’t listened to the otther material, but I’m sure the band gives you a decent insight into their musical meanderings. 84/100 Tony. |
