NEW MUSIC REVIEW:
Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
Lindsay Van Osten
Close your eyes. Picture that it's a summer afternoon in late August. You find yourself on top of a large hill in the countryside; lying in an open field of fresh green grass. The sky is clear, and you can feel the warm sun caressing your skin as a gentle breeze provides sweet relief on this hot and tired summer day. As you gaze up into the storm free skies you slip away into daydreams and wish this day could be preserved and relived indefinitely.
Well, it can. Fleet Foxes have captured the essence of the perfect lazy summer day in their self-titled album, Fleet Foxes. As I listen to the record I am happily transported to a time of simple pleasures.
Coming to our ears from Seattle, Washington, Fleet Foxes is the brainchild of Robin Pecknold and Skye Skjelset. The pair started writing music together in high school on guitar and vocals. When their music began to thirst for additional elements they teamed up with Casey Wescott on keys, Christian Wargo on bass, and later Joshua Tillman on drums. Each player is vital for the music to survive, as maintaining the ever-weaving orchestral motion provides oxygen for the songs. They have since expanded their instrumental artillery even further to include woodwinds, the mandolin, and of course the ever present tambourine. The tambourine may not be a new experiment, but my what a presence it has!
With tunes self-described as "Baroque harmonic pop jams," Fleet Foxes do not fall short when blending these genres together to create a mystical musical experience, though I would argue that their sound is more Renaissance influenced than Baroque. Their self-titled album is reminiscent of early 1960's folk rock with elements of bluegrass mixed in. Their thick layering of vocals creates a haunting hymn-like experience, which reaches perfection when coupled with the lush orchestration used throughout the album.
Fleet Foxes achieved a unified feel for their record without falling into the trap of monotony. One of my favourite songs on the album is "Blue Mountain Ridge." It begins with mandolin heavily influenced by late-Renaissance/early-Baroque music and introduces matching vocal harmonies before launching into a much edgier modern feel. Well, as edgy as folk rock can be! Japanese influences can be heard as well through the perpetual use of the pentatonic, which creates a delicious combination for hungry ears.
The final track of the record, "Oliver James," takes a step back from the heavier instrumental elements and ends with a single voice. This is a brilliant decision because it leaves the listener feeling fresh as the album ends.
Fans of Iron & Wine will enjoy this band. While Fleet Foxes has a brighter sound, the two bands evoke a similar sense of peaceful freedom through themes of simplistic natural beauty. After listening to this record it is clear to me that the members of Fleet Foxes do not simply play music; they are musicians. Their attention to detail and intelligent orchestration, as well as their seamless combinations of contrasting stylistic elements, make them quite a respectable musical force. I can only hope we will be taken along for more of their creative journey in the future.
Check out the Fleet Foxes myspace for tour dates and catch a show in a town near you:
Their record will be released June 3rd by SubPop Records:
Posts
