|
The Whispering Tree sound exactly what you would imagine a
band by that name would sound like. The soft, rolling rhythmic paddling
of bassist Elie Brangbour combined with the gently roving acoustic
threading has, at times, piano-driven undertones and at other times
is cloaked in chilling guitar riffs like in the seafaring chanty "Song
To Silence The World". Its maudlin tone has an eerie echo that
supports Eleanor Kleiner's vocal tincture and produces a brooding
pathos.
Leaning towards the folksy side of acoustic pop, the duo put several
stylish instrumentals into effect, such as the wispy violins and electrified
surges of the guitar lifts in "Something Might Happen,"
followed by the light billowing piano swells of the title track which
move to the simpatico strokes of a calm, undulating sea. It is safe
to say that many of the tracks are underlined by seafaring themes
much like the title of the album Go Call The Captain would
suggest. The sparsely layered melody of "The Tallest" has
a soft, rippling glide reminiscent of Fiona Apple, and the
bluegrass-country tint of the rambling grooves in the banjo molding
"Slide" has a charming, pivoting motion as Kleiner's vocals
join in the celebratory mood. The track is unlike any of the others,
but it shows the fun side of The Whispering Tree as "Washed Ashore"
drifts back into maudlin ethers with lyrics that project "This
will all be over soon."
The Whispering Tree have a product that is relevant in today's folk-pop
market. The melodies have a soft, acoustic compression with a firm
backbone, and easy listening aesthetics tasseled in tightly twined
instrumentals. Kleiner's vocals give the impression that she is just
barely keeping her head above the water projecting themes that relate
to Thornton Wilder's 1942 play The Skin Of Our Teeth.
Is society doomed to repeat the past? The Whispering Tree channel
today's conditions and present it in a way that is attractive while
drawing out it meaning subtly and poignantly.
-Susan Frances
Check out more
reviews
 Talk
Back
e-mail the
chief
Like this article?
e-mail it to
a friend!
|
The
Whispering Tree
