Elly Roberts reviews
The Late Cord: Lights From The Wheelhouse
Distributed by
EMI
- Cat.no: MAD2601CD
- Released: April 2006
- Rating: 4/10
- Format: Mini-LP
It’s highly unlikely that this debut mini-LP will become a commercial success. The full blown follow-up later this year may also suffer.
In fact it may just disappear without a trace. This snail-paced album is full
of alternative-country rambling soundscapes by southern hero Micah P.
Hinson and erstwhile side kick John Mark Lapham of The Earlies.
Their meeting was through a mutual friend. They discovered that they were from
the same neck of the woods – the west Texas town of Abilene, though their
musical backgrounds are very different.
Away from their independent careers, this side project, pools their undeniable
talents into the ultimate chill-out collection of five tracks that will
snuggle you up, or switch you off, literally depending on your mood.
Jam-packed with various instruments, for which they split responsibilities,
Latham and Hinson coolly handle banjo, mandolin, thumb piano, blow tuner,
harmonica (and even) a toy accordion, along with effects. With its
‘church-like’ opening, Lila Blue plods reverently until it crescendos into a
cacophony and falls limply after a staggering 8 minutes 33 seconds.
Track 2, The Late Cord, begins with a crackly loop whilst Hinson’s
quirky drone-like vocals glide across the haunting musical background, a la
Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells). Semay Wu’s sombre cello work on Chains/Strings
takes us into funeral territory, becoming the musical low-point.
Further plodding piano and church bells add to the pair’s collective vocals
in true Leonard Cohen spirit as they meander through My Most Meaningful etc etc.
Finally, the dark Hung On The Cemetery Gates brings the true musical
highlight, with Henry Da Massa’s dust-fuelled and hauntingly beautiful
harmonica rising above Hinson and Lapham’s eerie lyric-less drones.
At times it’s hard work, very hard work, though the net result is interesting
if nothing else.
Not for the casual listener I’m afraid.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
