Customer Reviews

To Find Me Gone

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Oh Man! I haven't been able to stop playing this record from local San Francisco folk heroes Vetiver since the day it arrived. I knew it would be good but I'm really surprised at how amazing and fresh it sounds given the tidal wave resurgence of the neo-folk movement that Devendra Banhart and Vetiver front-man Andy Cabic have spawned in the last few years (check out the Devendra-curated Golden Apples of the Sun compilation to see what I mean). To be honest, the neo-folk scene has become a bit over-saturated as of late. Not that I don't enjoy the music, but there are so many folk acts nowadays that it's become almost too overwhelming to keep up.

So the stakes have been raised quite a bit since Vetiver's quiet self-titled debut, as the past couple of year's have seen Cabic, out on the road touring not only with Vetiver but also as part of Devendra's touring band, starting record label Gnomonsong with Banhart (which released the debut Feathers cd), and garnering a huge amount of praise, attention and expectation. It seems the months on the road have been very good to Vetiver as recent homecoming shows at 12 Galaxies and the Great American have shown, delighting packed audiences and winning new converts who may have overlooked their fine debut. No more playing tiny intimate shows at Adobe Books, a little sad to say, but really, I am very happy for them. To Find Me Gone is more rock-oriented than its predecessor, as the band has evolved from an acoustic guitar, violin, cello trio to include a full time rhythm section (including Otto Hauser from Espers on drums, and Kevin Barker from Currituck Co. and Noah Georgeson on guitars) with spectacularly rich results.

Unlike their debut, where the strong songwriting and performances were a bit overshadowed by the heavyweight guest appearances from Hope Sandoval, Colm O'Ciosoig and Joanna Newsom (it also came across in some press as a Devendra side project), Cabic comes fully into his own here, showcasing a sublime quality of world-weariness hewn from months on the road. It's exciting, after hearing their debut, which was years in the making, to not find the usual sophomore slump, but instead witness such naturally self-assured songwriting and arrangements. Opener, "Been So Long (Gb Fade)", a song first heard in a more acoustic arrangement on the Between EP, begins with a raga drone that spaciously opens up into fantastic sighing choral harmonies. In fact there is a subliminal pulsation to the whole album that really brings out Cabic's sweet vocals but also keeps them centrally present as the country tinged ambience of flutes and cellos (played with grace and restraint by Vetiver veteran, Alissa Anderson) swells and swirls around him. Country shuffler, "Won't Be Me" sounds like Yo La Tengo in a rare pop Americana moment while the sudden electric surge on "Red Lantern Girls" is pure shoegazer country-stomp acid folk. The closer "Down at El Rio" co-written with Devendra is so nostalgic and sad, a gorgeous gorgeous song.

A long time record collector, and stellar DJ, Cabic mines his influences well. Less "freak-folk" than his friends and contemporaries, Cabic instead follows the compositional path of 70's singer-songwriters like J.J. Cale, Emitt Rhodes and John Phillips. It's a refreshing next step in the ever prevalent neo-folk scene. Beautiful and so totally recommended!

If you have been following the VETIVER story arc, then you know that on THE FIRST CD, all the great names in the present psychedelic folk rock scene, were gathered and had a little rainbow party (or so it sounds) in the recording. Names like Hope Sandoval (Read:MAZZY STAR), Devendra Banhart (The darling of the freak folk movement), Joanna Newsom (The harp player, and childlike singer, who's last album YS was declaired a masterpiece by many...not me, but many others I suppose), and a host of others. Seriously, this is a band that has PEDIGREE. However, i didnt fall into this band, thru the first album, i started here, on the second CD. The first song has this cool drone running thru it, and it sounds very eastern, then its followed by the next song with a strong beat, that if nothing reminded me of late period MGM songs by the Velvet Underground. Then, the CD reaches its stride, in songs like NO ONE WORD, with its minimal guitar picking and smokey female vocals, and the beautiful DOUBLE, that reminds one of work by SIA (the singer from ZERO7). This song has much of a electronica sound happening in the production, which helps to break up the sound of the album in a nice way, to keep the audio picture constantly fresh and easy on the ear, without becoming easy listening. The album has wonderful walzes in it, which again seems to be a touchstone with all these new freakfolk musicians, even tho the FOLK part of the movement seems to be falling away, as we watch the new albums by IRON AND WINE, and DEVENDRA BANHART, etc, become more and more rock orienated. (As has Decemberists as well).

I dont know why, but this album really gives me a great sense of hope. Its been 40 years since the infamous SUMMER OF LOVE, and i never thought there would be another psychedelic revival of beauty in music, and meaningful lyrics, with complex and thoughtful musicianship, but here it is, thanks to the ACID group mind of San Fransesco. (or human talent and musical progress). The album in a whole, has enough going on, that you can play it over and over, and not get bored at all. In fact, its the kind of album that sort of leads you into another world of music. From here, its so easy to find the BANHART music, IRON AND WINE, ESPERS, NICK CASTRO, SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, and maybe Sufjan Stevens too. All these groups, are California bands, except for Sufjan Stevens, and Espers, which is a Philly band. I do think that a community that is this rich, seems to produce something greater than its parts. I dont know if San Franscesco is going to be the new SEATTLE, or ATHENS GEORGIA, or LIVERPOOL ENGLAND, or....San Fransesco 1967, when the Airplane, the Dead, the Moby Grape, Big Brother and Janis Joplin, Country Joe, Quicksilver, Steve Miller, Santana, CCR, and Its a Beautiful Day, showed people what a community of like minded spirits can do, when they work together, and have a common vibe of hope and beauty. So, if that kind of idealism, and forward looking musical forms and lyrics, with backward looking hippie traditions, is attractive to you, I would think that this would be a cool album to buy. Since different people are singing on different songs, you wont find the problem that you might find with some folk singers, when the voice might get "on your nerves" (technically, this has been diagnosed as AURAL DYLANITIS.) SO rush right out to your closest AMAZON.COM seller, and buy it today. AS the Jefferson Airplane once said, "LOOK WHATS HAPPENING OUT ON THE STREET, GOT A REVOLUTION GOT A REVOLUTION." And we need all the positive change we can get right now. PEACE BROTHERS AND SISTERS

I have been a fan of this band for a while. I saw some of their early shows in San Francisco three years ago or more. Their first was cool but had too many all-star musicians on it. Was this a real band or just another sort of This Mortal Coil? I saw them again earlier this year, and it dispelled for me that this was a Devendra Banhart side project. Vetiver leader Andy Cabic has been touring with Banhart for a few years now. But seems to have found some original footing with "Been So Long" and "You May Be Blue." This is sort of like Cabic's All Things Must Pass. This album did come out a while ago. Unfortunately I left it in a rental car. It took me three months to get it back. I have been impressed with the new Vetiver. The early version was still limited in many ways. But this full version is definitely somewhere between George Harrison and the Grateful Dead. It's a swell journey.

To honest I know very little about the movement known as Freak Folk. I've heard of it but my general disinterest in Cosmic Cowboy type music has made me in no hurry to check it out. I like quality folk music, blues and heck even psychedelic music that doesn't bow down to the cliches of that genre but I am not a summer of love guy. (Not in the traditional sense mind you. I like my "hippy" music wild eyed, radical, and intense. I am not going to San Francisco with flowers in my hair.) So picture my surprise when I came across this album in my restless but somewhat lazy search for something new. To Find Me Gone is somehow clear eyed and trippy at the same time. And the band dust the whole thing in roots rock. Don't get me wrong this doesn't rock in a sweaty crazy way but they make sure the songs have the just right of muscle. When you can hear traces of Palace Music, prime Dylan, eastern style George Harrison modalities, and in one instance Kraut rock rhythms, you are not listening to some who gives a damn about categories. Not a party record but does every album have to be? These songs are not wildly splayed exercises in flash but carefully constructed songs that consider the possibilities of every moment. In my mind I store this album alongside the criminally under appreciated works of The Radar Bros. It is smartly sequenced, giving it the lightest touch of oomph to exist in a mellow state without becoming stagnant. It is really an album that persists. I may not listen everyday but, I am consistently rewarded for the time spent.

I don't write album reviews much--but this CD is worth it. I'd reccomend this to most everyone. I don't have a friend who dislikes it. This album shows a band in their maturing stages. The melodies, guitar working, everything about it just makes it an easy going, calming album. Don't buy this cause of Devendra Banhart, it's much deeper than that. If you want a relaxing, beautiful album that will get its melodies stuck in your head, get this. You won't regret it.

I loved the first one by Vetiver but I just felt week in the knees listening to this one for the first one.
The first track is a master piece, and the rest of the tracks are just perfect.

Got turned on to this by the good folks over at Luakabop. Seems some of the merry pranksters who call themselves Vetiver showed up and played with those other merry pranksters (and Luaka labelmates), Os Mutantes when they played some US shows recently.

While Devendra often says he's influenced by Os Mutantes and the rest of the Tripicalia (yes, deliberately misspelled) movement, in past incarnations, he reminded most of a latter day Marc Bolan.

Ever mutating (hence, undoubtedly, the aforementioned Os MUTANT-es inspiration), this iteration of Vetiver recalls nothing so much as George Harrison at his most laid back and trippiest. And that, prospective listeners, is a damn good thing.

In these recent disturbingly authoritarian dominated times, these neo hippies are a great counterpoint, and maybe even presciently foretold a growing popular resistance to the mayhem this country has had to put up with the past 6 years (one can only hope it lasts). If true, the latter would lend more credence to the argument these guys are following in the political footsteps of Os Mutantes (and Beatles, and John Lennon, etc., etc.) before them.

Aside from any subtle or not so subtle political implications, this is great music. There was a time back in the mid to late 60s when bands recorded albums while they were doing....ahem...well, let's just say mind altering substances. Listeners, in turn, would get in similar states of mind after bringing the record home. This resulted in a stronger and closer bond between artist and listener (as an aside, Beck is doing the same thing now, but I digress).

Whether or not you choose to experiment along these lines is up to you. Either way, this is groovy listening, guaranteed to grow on you.

For old Vetiver fans this may be a miss. Stream the whole thing on their website before hand. I find most of the songs sound just like the one before and after it. There is no originality and where is Alissa's transending deep and erotic cello? Honestly, the CD made me fall asleep, unlike their past ones. This fan is passing up on this one, sorry. :(

definitely a good album, didn't enjoy it quite as much as their first, but deserves a good listen

What is up with this new Soft = Loud thing?
Kind of dull...
It's like Lillith Faire for men. ?
I guess...
They look mad cool though. All brown and like Greg Allman circa '72. Sweet brah...
Well...you work hard all your life and then you have to do something...at least they're not killing anyone...
Awesome.