Breathe Owl Breathe – Ghost Glacier
This album is simple, clean and lovely. It’s gentle and unhurried, and they appear to have been listening to an awful lot of Bill Callahan. It sort of drifts into this territory over the course of the album though, rather than starting out there. To begin with it works more of an easy, slightly croonsome folk sound, again keeping things nice and laid back.
The use of female vocals is particularly nicely judged on this album, whether it be in duet or simply to accent the main vocal thread, it brings a lovely dynamic to the music, and seems somehow to make it more wistful. Her voice seems to have a touch of the Jolie Hollands about it at times, which perhaps leads to me having the impression that this album is a little more folky than it actually is. Apart from the gorgeous cello work, there’s nothing all that folky about this really, but I am still left with the impression that it is a folky record for some reason.
I would like perhaps a little more zip or bite about either the songwriting or the arrangements, if I were to make any criticism. Something somewhere could do with being a little more raggedy and less, well, pleasant, I suppose. That’s a bit of a churlish criticism in some ways because the lush loveliness is one of the best things about this album – it’s rich and beautiful and a pleasure to listen to – but you know what I’m like with angst. This is a good record though, and I will be exploring their back catalogue. Incidentally, according to their MySpace page they don’t have a record label at the moment, which seems like an absolute travesty.
Breathe Owl Breathe – Twilight
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Breathe Owl Breathe – Sabertooth Tiger
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Very nice indeed. Splendid fiddling on Twilight, and interesting changes of tempo. I’m hearing tons of great scrapiness and wheeziness in the strings and horns, as well, so I think they hit just the right “raggedy” quotient. I hear what you mean about Bill Callahan on Sabertooth Tiger. The Twilight track won’t download for some reason, but it streams fine. Is that intentional?
Oi Bugger nuts, thought you were “working” late not posting late.
C&B link is working now?
I bumped into Bart on the way home he bears signs of a recent beard trim :-0
Trim mind, not shave, but shocking nevertheless.
“C&B link is working now?”
No t’aint.
Download link fixed – just ballsed up my copy-and-pasting.
this what i was saying to Bart over a cup of tea today
god missed the word ‘is’ out…..doh
I still don’t really understand. What were you saying to Bart?
Oi Bugger nuts?
It used to be bugger lugs when I was growing up, but then, she always was a crude old slapper.
Breathe owl breathe……it kinda was a joke Matthew
Mmm. Not entirely obvious though Chutters, wouldn’t you say?
Why did Bart stop breathing because you gave him a cup of tea?
What did you put in his tea for god’s sake man?!
[...] ~Song By Toad discovers the Ghost Glacier EP from Breathe Owl Breathe (also recommended from yours truly) and by golly, he just may like it. Check it out here. [...]
These guys are actually on the Earthworks Music Label….Excellent Folk oriented label from Northern Michigan. Well worth checking into.
Ah right. Just an oversight then.
So I picked up the album on eMusic. Superb. Baseball Diamond? I’m in love, that’s what I am.
Yes, I was taking a long walk in the mountains while listening to this and the album from Balmorhea, and oh bugger were they so lovely. I was smiling alot and just enjoying the hell out of every second of the trip. It was awesome.
I dont wan’t mp3 files of this though, do any one know if its actually possible to purchase cd’s anywhere?
Christ, no idea, I just downloaded it from eMusic. The shop on their website lists CDs as being for sale, but the links aren’t active. Maybe they’ve sold out.