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Unlike most double disc releases, in which each disc acts as a sort
of "Side A" and "Side B" and one is a continuation
of the other, The Channel's new double disc entitled Tales
From The Two Hill Heart/Sibylline Machine is actually two distinct
entities. It is similar to Bright Eyes' most recent albums,
in which Conor Oberst simply released two separate CD's at
the same time. However, The Channel decided to be even more economical
by releasing them in a single package.
Tales From The Two Hill Heart moves at the pace of a country
album, complete with themes of Tennessee and "girls who did [them]
wrong." The album takes its time. It is not in any rush to make
a point. Like the old cliché, it is more about the journey
than the destination. The Channel have brought their Austin, Texas
roots along with a bit of a Southern twang. It is more reminiscent
of artists like Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis, who flirt with
folk music at times, but are indie pop at their core. However, Colby
Pennington's vocals are more along the lines of Elliott Smith
than Willie Nelson. The first song "Up On The Hill"
opens with dreamy (but almost dissonant) harmonies, followed by the
twangy "Wages Of Death." "Olden Days" and "The
Deserter" sound like they came straight from the 60's, while
"The Man I Don't Remember," the record's strongest track,
offers the distant sound of a banjo. In "The Daring Eye,"
the cooing background vocals act as watchful ghosts during haunting
verses. This leads into an unexpectedly hopeful chorus with the words,
"I only hope that you have patience when you know that I have
found you." The painfully catchy "Aching" ends with
the repetetive lines, "Someday we'll be together/Yes we will/Yes
we will." For some reason I don't get the idea that The Channel
are trying to compose another "We Are The World." In fact,
I don't get the idea that The Channel are trying too hard to do anything
on this album, which is why it works so well. It is just a well-done
piece of work by a band whose skill seems to come very naturally for
them.
"Deep Silent Seas," the first track on the second disc
Sibylline Machine offers the first sign of an electric guitar,
while also diverting from the consistently patient pace of Tales.
It mixes up the pace a bit by unexpectedly speeding up the rhythm
and then slowing it down again. Some of the most notable tracks include
the brilliant title track, as well as my favorite song, "Under
The Carpet." I love the simplicity of the same few chords repeating
over and over contrasting with the psychedelic programming at the
end of the song. Most of the songs on Sibylline Machine are
good, catchy, but simple songs, from the serene "The King Of
Spain" to the Beatles-esque "Sneaks Or Skates?"
However, I found that it kind of paled in comparison to Tales From
The Two Hill Heart. It seemed that the songs merely lacked some
of the depth displayed on the first disc. Sibylline was a bit
too "granola" for me, and by "granola" I mean
this: it tasted good and I knew it was good for me, but somehow I
just grew tired of chewing on it. Tales on the other hand,
was like a filet mignon… in the spirit of Texas and all.
-Allegra Willis
Track Listing:
1. Up On The Hill
2. Wages Of Death
3. Olden Days
4. The Deserter
5. The Daring Eye
6. The Man I Don't Remember
7. Aching
8. Halls Of The Gifted
9. Fired #3
10. New Mexican Arcade
11. The Creek
12. …2 Kinds Of Leaders
13. ….Whirly Bird
1. Deep Silent Seas
2. Besides/Ohio
3. Sibylline Machine
4. Rapture, My Captain
5. The King of Spain
6. The Network Of Eaves
7. Disco For Daisies
8. Sneaks Or Skates?
9. Under The Carpet
10. Second Born Daughters
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