Label: Coo-Coo Bird
Released: Jan 11, 2005 |
|
|
"Welcome my friends, to the midnight cabaret!" It's been awhile since we've heard from the Reverend & company. Their 2001 debut, Black River Falls was a theatrical mix of carnival music, old-time country, and folk. Reverend Glasseye & His Wooden Legs were like the vaudeville entertainment for a haunted masquerade ball.
After four years, Reverend Glasseye have dropped the Wooden Legs from their moniker and concentrated their sound a bit more. The gloomier elements of Black River Falls have been brought closer to the forefront on this 5-song EP.
The organ and subdued jazz drumming on "The World Is Not My Home Sir" are especially chilling when matched with Adam Glasseye’s demented ringmaster vocals. The first four songs all have a “circus of the dead” feel, and are jam-packed with horns, organ, toy piano, vibraphone, etc. The overall sound is somewhere in between Tom Waits’ carnival music and Nick Cave’s more formidable moments.
However, the biggest surprise comes at the end of this EP. “Sins Of Portsmouth” is a cold, naked banjo ditty reminiscent of 16 Horsepower. It proves that Reverend Glasseye is equally adept at bringing out the darkness of the instrument.
While I enjoy this EP, it lacks the uptempo numbers that made Black River Falls such a diverse and exciting listening experience. I'm not implying that Happy End And Begin isn’t enjoyable. I just hope that Reverend Glasseye’s next full length will feature more rowdiness amidst all the brooding.
|
