I had to close
my eyes and let the blue notes of "The Old Oak" float by like soft,
fragrant smoke. The legacy of the Chicago blues masters and the ghostly vocal
melodies of Mad Season simmer just below the surface of
Wildflowers Wither, the
self-titled release. The record's expansive sonic palette makes me remember
what I loved about
Physical Graffiti
when I first heard "Ten Years Gone." The beauty of Wildflowers Wither
lies in the sparse dynamics that draw you in closer regardless of the volume
level. "The Old Oak," "Damp and Grey" and "The Gypsy
Song" lull you into Wither's realm and "The River" makes you
stay. The final cut, "Lazy Lady" hearkens back to the early days of
heavy, psychedelic rock with a riff so tasty it doesn't even need distortion.
From the
website:
"Wildflowers
Wither takes the loose analogue blues of the late 60's and melds it with a
roaming groove and haunting vocal harmonies."
It's hard to
find anything critical in what Wildflowers Wither is doing. The occasional organ
distracted me from the captivating guitar tones but that's hardly even worth a
comment. It speaks more to my own preference for guitars over keys.
Wildflowers
Wither hails from Sydney, Australia and is the first solo outing by Kegan
DeBoheme (The Gypsy Bangles). DeBoheme's vocal tone is sultry and in perfect
alignment with his powerful songwriting. The delivery is heartfelt and honest, as
though he was performing live in front of me. Even the visual aesthetic of
Wildflowers Wither is poignant, eschewing the usual black and dark for an
earthy, organic vibe.
I played this
record three times in a row, front to back, while writing the review. When I
finish, I'm going to listen to it again.
