Dave Halverson
"Apothecary Charms" CD
self-released
Genre: instrumental rock
Oakland, CA
June 29, 2009 |
Very pleased by this
unexpected nugget from independent musician Dave Halverson.
If you remember classic instrumental rock band Pell Mell,
then you'll undoubtedly be pleased to learn that Apothecary
Charms takes some significant cues from that band's material. Of
course, this deviates considerably from the Pell Mell formula
- there's more electronics, less surf guitar, and a greater emphasis
on experimentation. Still, Halverson has a knack for
appealingly melodic instrumentals, churning out several excellent
moments on this album. Among the highlights are adrenaline-pumping
opener "A Quick Dance on a Shallow Grave," twangy anthem "Song for
the Chickens," and film-like epic "Shells in the Clocktower." And
there's also some healthy (and successful) experimentation: "The
Agonist" is pleasantly eerie and cinematic, and "K" lays tuneful
guitar noodling over a bubbly, acid-like bassline.
The fact that
Apothecary Charms is all the work of one man is perhaps the most
impressive aspect of this release; the overdubbing involved must
have been arduous! Yet despite its personnel-related limitations,
this record comes off as a fully realized and thoroughly appealing
artifact of independent music. Well done, Dave.
dave's myspace
78%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 11 tracks, distributed by
CD Baby,
released April 2008] |