Eric Bachmann: To The Races

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Eric is the ex-frontman of Archers Of Loaf who recently has been producing and arranging wonderfully folk/pop records for others including Azure Ray, where I really discovered him, and Sufjen Stevens.
This, his second solo record after the instrumental Shorts Careers (also known as the soundtrack to Ball Of Wax), finds him in a surprisingly restrained mood. The opening track has gently fingerpicked guitar and he sings with just a multitracked vocal accompaniement, but it sounds like a string quartet his skills at arrangement are so acute.
The whole album (and at 38 odd minutes it is an old style album) unfolds thus, a little harmonica here and piano there so sparce as to be almost undetectable as far as melody is concerned.
The singing and quiet intensity of the songs variously reminds me of Springsteen playing the "down" songs from The River acousticall and solo, or maybe an occasional hint of Gene Clark, although 2 or 3 times I was reminded very much of early solo stuff from Ronnie Lane (The Poacher but more stripped back).
This is so restarined it makes JJ Cale sound like Kiss!
I think this is unbelievably impressive stuff, it has an authority that dosn't have to shout.
Its just sensational.
His site (www.ericbachmann.com) is new and there were no free downloads there last I looked, but he is going out to do some shows.
But get to hear this disc somewhere. It could make your day better.

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Topic - Eric Bachmann: To The Races - dave c 13:26:31 10/23/06 (8)

Thanks - Frihed89 11:11:03 10/25/06 (1)

What are they like? - dave c 12:38:21 10/25/06 (0)

Snatches - LWR 13:32:19 10/23/06 (5)

When I wrote Sufjen Stevens, I meant Micah P Hinson. nt - dave c 16:42:11 10/23/06 (4)

That is ok - LWR 17:09:15 10/23/06 (3)

When I see Olive, Oil give her your best. nt - dave c 18:41:40 10/23/06 (2)

Legs like - LWR 18:44:01 10/23/06 (1)

That's how the world will end: not with a banger but a Wimpey. - dave c 21:55:01 10/23/06 (0)

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