a place for parks - the bright period
as per the cover (leaves/limbs of dead birds ?) this indicates that this album comes over as a very autumnal collection of instrumental pieces. this is not for those bright summer days, needs dark clouds/rain to get full effect.
guitars strum, mellow vibes, string backing, drums in the distance. mournful violin appears from time to time .. dirty three spring to mind .. a different vibe comes to the surface in the second track 'our screwball concerto' which has an edge with its scratchy vinyl effect, lonesome piano melody, and some form of horn instrument.
i'm getting depressed now ..
next up is the sonic youth influence showing apparently in 'empty room', making this one a personal fave.
where the album becomes interesting is in its long long epic 'hidden landscapes' (all 16 minutes !), obviously intended to be the albums centrepiece. from its quiet start, a simple guitar chord structure .. builds up slowly, gradually more instruments are added, including windblown instruments (clarinet) adding something that is not normally heard in this type of context making this different. at 5 mins drums appear, the ante is upped. a very nice pleasant autumnal track.
perfect soundtrack to a walk in a park.
closer 'tide water' with its lovely atmosphere piano melodic line. recalls dusty late night jazz type of emotions, invoking memories of long lost lovers, forgotten joys and simple pleasures.
melancholy in extreme - should come with an emotional warning.