*** This review first appeared in TSMM's January 26th Substack newsletter where you can get all the tip, and more, first ***
Big Bend is driven by Ohio native, main composer, lead singer, piano tickler and bass player Nathan Phillips. This new LP started life during an Australian residency where the recordings took place, then, with the assistance of Shahzad Ismaily, the ensemble jam sessions were artfully “collaged” and augmented in a fit of post-production prowess, to produce this genre ambiguous gem.
It’s another hard to describe fusion affair, in fact exactly why god invented the play button, but I’ll have a go. There’s a real folkiness to proceedings with Phillips falsetto urged higher by the acoustic guitar picking and post modern piano tinkling, with some roots fiddle adding a rural charm to what is otherwise another parallel dimensional voyage. The percussion is pleasingly light weight, a flimsy frame on which to hang the rarefied vibes, sample oddities, distant machines and all sorts of instrumental cameos. The detailing is subtle and the vibes are real.
Playlist Companion:
Find Big Bend and other generally alt-pop gems in the aptly named
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