Customer Reviews

Northern Gothic

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If it's not their best; it's certainly one of their two or three finest moments. Jeff Kelly's songs, voice and guitar playing are strong throughout. There are few American songwriters that can match Kelly's eye for detail, poetic sensibilites, breadth of vision and ear for a melody. Laura Weller and Eric Lichter both contribute some excellent songs of their own to the collective whole. Primarily influenced by great late sixties pop, with a range of subject matter far beyond the routine, or simplistic. A pervading darkness lurks in almost every song here, and in many ways this Seattle band deliver an album that lives up to it's title.

this fantastic cd opens with "in the darkness," which is filled with a foreboding sound quality. from that 1st track on through track 14, this is a complete winner. all excellent tracks, but standouts for me were: "in the burning moonlight," with its perfect 60's psychedelic vibe, "wild wild reefs," another classic 60's style psych-melody, "bitter moon," which opens with hints of irish folk that blend into gentle rock harmonies, "coyotes and comets," a gorgeous ballad, and "blue halloween moon," a subtle song of controlled tension that is hypnotic in its tasteful restraint. this recording is supremely crafted by folks with taste and talent to burn.