 Arbouretum
"Long Live the Well-Doer" CD
Box
Tree Records
Genres: folk-rock, alt country, indie rock
band
website
Feb 28 - Mar 6 2005 |
Dave Heumann has long lived in the shadows of fame (so to
speak), playing a supporting role in bands like The Anomoanon and Bonnie Prince Billy, but
Arbouretum finally marks his entrance into the spotlight, along
with bandmate David Bergander. Adding to the pot is a
selection of contributing musicians and singers, including Ned
Oldham and Rob Girardi. As can be expected, Long
Live the Well-Doer isn't entirely removed from the Oldham
camp of country-tinged folk-rock, but Arbouretum does change
things up quite a bit, adding a number of atmospheric instrumentals to
the fray and giving the entire record a more experimental, almost
drone-like essence.
The album opens up with a slow, improv-style instrumental intro
that quickly sets the tone in a unique, gradual vein. This type
of piece also appears in "I am a Somnambulist" and
"Wisteria," which are more melodic and structured, but still
spaced-out and gradual. The songs with vocals are the primary
focus on Well-Doer, however. "All That Will Be Has Become, All That
Has Come Isn't Gone" and "Don't Let It Show" are two
especially strong folk tunes; each one uses a relaxed, sensitive tone
and imbues it with a strong, instantly memorable melody. The
mellow finale, "Song's a Seed in My Garden," finishes the
record nicely, using an Anomoanon-esque sound that is
touchingly beautiful.
If you choose to pan this off as just another Oldham family
side-project, that's your decision - however, for those willing to
give it a shot, there's no doubting that this album is, on its own, a
tremendously successful release.
87%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
9 tracks, distributed by Morphius, released 2004] |
