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Elly Roberts reviews
Fat Cat Records
- Released: May 2008
- Rating: 10/10+
- Vote and comment on this album:
Oldies. With new values.
Driving through the sparse north Wales countryside seemed an appropriate place tolisten to Vetivers wonderful Thing Of The Past.
It reminded me of a similar journey through Wisconsins undulating landscape13 years ago. The title is also a clue. Essentially, Vetiver is acountry band lead by Andy Cabic) a buddy of the brilliant Devendra Banhart(who occasionally joins them) cellist Alissa Anderson (who adds some divinevocals too) drummer Otto Hauser, violinist Carmen Biggers, guitarists KevinBarker and Sanders Trippe and bassist Brent Dunn.
Thing Of The Past is respectfully dedicated to Cabics heroes, as heunearths songs which might otherwise have been well forgotten from the late’60s to early ’70s. For this reviewer alone, its brought a great deal ofpleasure and it will to you too.
For some fans it might be considered a retrograde step not at all.
It might prove, in the future, to be inspirational for them, and others musiclovers. It does take some courage attempting a covers album, but when youvegot top class production by country specialist Pernice Brothers Thom Monahan,it helps. They stamp their ideas perfectly with acoustic lead rambler Housesby forgotten Canadian Elyse Weinberg followed by Daryl Adams gorgeous driftingswing Roll On Babe.
When they hit Sleep A Million Years by Dia Joyce, (recorded some 40years ago by obscure artist Kathy Heiderman), featuring musical stable-mateYashti Bunyans sublime vocals, they strike gold. Matthews Southern Comforts1970 track from Later That Same Year Road To Ronderlin is aquaint and delicate ballad, beautifully handled.
The biggest surprise is choosing a song by Brit space-rockers Hawkwind HurryOn Sundown (1970), though their cover makes absolute sense because theoriginal, a lightweight rocker by their standards, is a great song featuringrasping countrified-blues harmonica. Vetiver simply make it their own due tothe exquisite country credentials, retaining the romp, making it the mostexhilarating of them all pure brilliance.
More class ensues on LoudonWainwrights The Swimming Song, covered by Kate and Annie McGarrigle,retaining the rootsy/bluegrass feel, though without the originals gusto.Another major highlight is Cabic joined by writer of Blue Driver 67 year-oldMichael Hurley on a groovy country boogie.
Standin, by enigmatic country legend Townes Van Zandt is a smooth chuggernautand great follower-on to Blue Driver. And finally, where it all began.Bobby Charless sublime lo-fi ballad, I Must In A Good Place Now “Appletrees blooming all around / I must be in a good place now / Sunshine coming /A rainbow colored sky” summed up my time and place on the road home.
File under: Nice one Andy !
Weblink:myspace.com/vetiver
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Houses
2. Roll On Babe
3. Sleep A Million Years
4. Hook And Ladder
5. To Baby
6. Road To Ronderlin
7. Lon Chaney
8. Hurry On Sundown
9. The Swimming Song#
10. Blue Driver
11. Standin
12. I Must Be In Good Place Now
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.