| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Hush Arbors is Keith Wood, sometime member Current 93 (David Tibet) and buddy of Six Organs Of Admittance and Sunburned Hand. Wood’s alt-folk credentials sit alongside the likes of Devendra Banhart and Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes), but now with Yankee Reality he’s trying (his best) to broaden his appeal, without totally selling out to his folkie sensibilities -he’s just about achieved his goal. Its roots are undeniably at the cross-pollination point of the 60s where folk fused with country rock a la The Byrds and CSN&Y, but without any mega-hit potential. Jam packed with jangly guitar sojourns and warbling vocals, Wood makes a real fist at reaching out, though it’ll probably take a keen radio playlist compiler to give this a nudge forwards. This album is dedicated to Link Wray, a man best known for overdriven, distorted guitar sounds and for inventing the ‘power chord’, but there’s only one track that gives him a nod – the cacophonous blast of art-punky closer Devil Made You High, though elements seep through on tracks such as Lisbon a bouncy folk-rock ditty. Subliminal Wray touchstones appear on the rambling Fast Asleep too, but to get the maximum effect they’re kept to a minimum. The languid So They Say is constructed around a slo-mo guitar, deliciously drenched in reverb with Wood’s warbling at it’s fragile best.
If Wood needs a single to jettison his second album, then he should look no further than beat-heavy One Way Ticket, a sound synonymous with Neil Young at his pop best, if there is such a thing. The rolling piano is the major hook here apart from some understated but mightily effective guitar chords, though Take It Easy a breezy country shuffle with occasional twang, comes a close second . Wood has admitted his admiration for hillbilly music, so Coming Home is a ballsy homage with a delightful Creedence Clearwater Revival choogle. Velvet Underground fans will drool at the guitar jangliness and measured vocals of Sun Shall, arguably Wood’s tribute to Venus In Furs. Best track by far is For While You Slept, where the band swing into a country-rock juggernaut, one The Byrds would rubber stamp their approval. The wiry guitar solo by J Mascis is sensational. The verdict – Top album.
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
