Welcome to a brand new week. I’m listening to a brand new sound for me, maybe it will be for you too. I’m looking to expand upon my genre listening range and sometimes it’s hit or miss. I’ll be posting what I think are the hits here. Time will tell if what I’m hearing is something that mainstream consumers will be forking over money for too. There is the possibility that I’m feeling the after effects of sun stroke. I was out playing golf for my birthday weekend with my mom and my dad and his girlfriend. Nothing like a day in the sun at high altitude. I do miss the mountains of Utah (no, I’m not mormon – a typical question people ask if you’ve lived there).
I came across Crooked Still yesterday and from the moment I heard it, I was thinking to myself, damn this is a cool take on folk music. After breezing through their website I find that I’m not the only one who is thinking this way. In fact, there’s quite a few reviews and some quotes from some fancy musical names that also feel this way too. So I’m already not alone.
I specifically like the arrangements of the instrumentation. I’m sure it’s not totally original, but it is fresh to my ears. I come from a much more rock band oriented background. Having listened to this it has already given me ideas for arrangements on my next CD. Which I’m already planning on making even more diverse than my current CD. I like to explore sound and creating space. What better way to do that than to apply it to songs as they’re being recorded. It’s obvious that Crooked Still works very much in that framework but they are much more tied to their instruments for their style.
One thing I really like to point out on these posts is when the musicianship is outstanding. I’m sure you’ve already noticed it. These cats can play. They bring a real quality technique to the table and that makes the music even that much more enjoyable to me. The singer, oh my, Aoife O’Donovan (I haven’t a clue how it would be pronounced but I can imagine it would be sexy). She gives me goosebumps. I could probably sit and listen to her all day. That’s frightening. I don’t really feel like that about too many singers. So I can be sure that some of her influence is going to be rubbing off on me.
In the meantime, I suggest that you give them an entire listen through their whole CD, I’m also very fond of Last Fair Deal Gone Down. Most certainly give some serious consideration to purchasing it. They are out on tour, bouncing between the States and Europe. So check ’em out. I know I plan too.