Eerie Gaits - Holopaw

The new album from Eerie Gaits - Holopaw - is out now from Sound As Language

The side project of John Ross of Wild Pink, has been much anticipated, and is the second full length release following the debut of Bridge Music in June 2017.

Eerie Gaits is the instrumental sound board for Ross' compositional output, and fittingly during this weird period of social and cultural history, Holopaw is an album of contemplation and introspection during the period of collective lockdown.

From the opening track 'What's Eating You' Ross sets himself out as making an album with something for everyone, a wide array of influences from American music history abound from alt-country to electronica, country riffs to ambient sounds.

A hallmark album for this would be Bon Iver's debut 'For Emma, Forever Ago' which was released in July 2007; this is the album Justin Vernon would have made had he not felt the need to sing. Ross has created an album of nine-ambient compositions that are full of joy and community as opposed to Iver's paean to loneliness.

From the naturalism of 'Out In The Tall Grass' to the quietness of 'Oia' which shows a range of emotions in less than two minutes; from minimalism to full blown euphoric expressions.

The dexterity and virtuosity of this album is a wonder to behold, it seeks to be heard above the crowd and if given the right platform it will do - an album that is both wondrous and wonderful, it bears repeat listenings and in this day and age - currently of lockdown - you may have the time to do so.

Holopaw is out now on all formats via Sound As Language.
My thanks to them for the review opportunity.

Wild Pink Announce New EP

Following the success of their album Yolk in the Fur in 2018, the New York band are set to release a new EP in March 2019 entitled 5 Songs - featuring remixes of three existing album tracks and two unreleased songs from the album recording sessions.

Existing between the space between the understated debut album and the more expansive Yolk in the Fur which was a triumphant panoramic soundscape of an album. Featuring the hallmarks of The War on Drugs coupled with the adulation for the late Tom Petty, composer and lead guitarist John Ross could well be helping his side break for the mainstream.

Yolk in the Fur garnered much praise from many connoisseurs of rock music featuring on many a Best of 2018 list from Pitchfork to Steven Hyden.

On the EP, the remixes of album tracks in order 'There Is A Ledger', 'Love Is Better' and 'All Some Frenchman's Joke' from Shy Layers, Dondadi (side project of Connor Hanwick - sometimes member of Wild Pink) and Eerie Gaits (solo guitar project of John Ross himself). The two unreleased tracks are 'Coaches Who Cry' and 'How's The Tap Here' again showcase Ross' knack of writing subtle songs with a universality to them.

This couples with news of tour dates ranging from mid January culminating with a more expansive tour commencing in late April in Los Angeles ending in Philadelphia on May 10th. Support comes from Strand of Oaks.

Yolk in the Fur is out now from Tiny Engines.
5 Songs EP is out in March 2019 from Tiny Engines.

My thanks to Tiny Engines for the press release.

Wild Pink 'Yolk in the Fur'

Its funny sometimes how albums come into your life, by accident by recommendation. On the off chance one morning of browsing via Twitter, this album was reviewed on my feed and I read the review. Part from appreciation of the person's taste but also the gorgeous album cover of the album in question - a birds eye view shot of a landscape but from a different perspective resembles Mr. Incredible pointing westward ho to something if nothing.

So via an Amazon Music app you take a chance on listening to the album; this writer has always had a soft spot for fringe albums the type that may not even engage with the mainstream or near UK radio stations nor garner deserved airplay (I could rant about the 2018 Mercury Music Prize shortlist but I will not).

The album by Wild Pink is one of those growers, an album that is large in scale but small in stature. Lead writer John Ross writes about the environment and the landscapes his feet tread upon in sharp juxtaposition to the band hailing from the urbanity of New York City.

Ross writes about hills in the album opener 'Burger Hill' and lakes in the second 'Lake Erie' with the recurring refrain 'You thought you'd never get out' then the title track itself. Most tracks run at over four and a half minutes allowing songs to form an identity of their own - it reminded me of a little heard album called 'Amusement Parks on Fire' a self-titled album by a Nottingham band which was large in scope but never got the acclaim it deserved.

This is an album rich in harmonies, at times almost tranquil but breezy making the album seem almost laidback to the point of coming across as too easy in terms of production; yet there is more to the album than mere lushness. There is a wanting for simpler times than the ones Americans find them living in now - one where they were in touch with their country thanks to pioneers as Theodore Roosevelt

The euphoric crescendo of 'The Séance on St. Augustine St.' is reminiscent of anything by Doves or My Morning Jacket; these are songs that take time to breathe and become more than humble beginnings.  This is an album that is inventive and seamless with tracks knitting together to form an overall personality.

This is an album that is full of ideas and imagination that you rarely find nowadays in American and perhaps rock music; bombastic and fantastic in equal measure, Wild Pink may well have written the great unknown album of 2018.

Wild Pink's Yolk in the Fur is released by Tiny Engines and available in all formats now.