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Buried Treasure, indeed,
young Jim lad’s and Jemima lasses, for this
release, actually recorded back in 2002, is a sweet, reserved young
wallflower on the surface with heavy rolling oceans of experience and
hard-learnt lessons under their threadbare togs, whispering scattered
seams of wisdom should you wander into earshot. Gentle waves of melodies
lapping at lyrical waters edges (the languid Steve Earle Spanish stroll of
‘No Tears Tonight’) weary voices revealing long held secrets
to some unknown lover in laudanum daze (‘Sweet Anybody’, ‘Nothing
To Show’, inexplicably instantly captivating in it’s contained
regret, Langford’s part West Yorkshire / part Lucinda Williams hurt-paw
purr brogue beguilingly soothing). The old Mekon’s raggedy ass influence
on Will Oldham is apparent as are touches of cross-pollination. Opener ‘Rolling
of the Eyes’ is a Silver Jews / Pavement / Palace Brothers jamble,
shuffling stoned around the Sesame Street theme, spiky guitars added as a
favour from a passing Dave Kusworth, who dropped by to repay some $$$. ‘From
Attic To Basement’ works as a Sparklehorse sound and mood piece
splicing (almost) the two halves of the record, before ‘Torn Apart’s late
80’s REM rocker rings in the changes - restless, resolute, desiring the
drift, grasping for horizons but only realising it all into a Richard
Thompson rumination on the tired shrug of ‘Stayed’, cold
winds, whether of Chicago or Chapeltown, blowing through the narrator like
clues to his condition as he sifts through the reasons why; ‘The
Inca Princess’ is a dreamscape pop gem of Billy Bragg-esque
vintage; the seemingly, and fittingly, unfinished, unresolved ‘Do
You Wanna Go Somewhere?’ ends this bewitching mix of bitterness,
gentle regret and beautiful basement blue Trans – Atlantic Americana.
Magical, wistfully insistent.
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