Maurice Hope – May 17, 2016 at 07:18PM
Tags:_AMERICANA
Who are Spain? The answer is Spain is the musical project of LA singer-songwriter Josh Haden, son of Charlie Haden (jazz bassist, one of the best of the 20th century) he is both an insightful songwriter and gifted vocalist. Here is a man able to peel back the veneer, give life and vivid imagery to subject matters many would struggle to earn a second glance. His rich warm vocals dampened in dark, plaintive emotion drawn from his own life. Inspired greatly by the life of his late father and in “The Depression” (as in the Great Depression) his grandfather; and there are others too as he cultivates his own emotions and of those observed close in.
Charlie Haden was also a big part of Josh’s life, musically (and otherwise) as he played the part of mentor and musician. Performing and giving advice on the recordings of Spain. On this recording Haden (acoustic guitar, bass and vocals) has Kenny Lyon (acoustic, electric, lap, pedal steel, banjo, keyboards and piano), Danny Frankel (drums, percussion) and his sister, Petra Haden (violin, vocals) lend support as a rich pure helping of alt-Americana is served, a little on the slowcore side, but nothing to spoil the fluid feel of the music.
After the awesome opener “Tennessee” I could not see Spain reaching the same dizzy height again but I was wrong. For repeatedly the music of Spain excites as in a Neil Young-esque “In My Last Hour” and dramatic telling of “Battle Of Saratoga” plus of course “The Depression”. Superbly crafted the lead off track enjoys a lonesome edge as pedal steel and little else escorts the painful telling of a story going back to a homestead in Tennessee back in 1885, the subtle arrangements fuel the fire of Haden in beautiful fashion. Bubbling over in moving fashion “Lorelei” is one of those troubled odes typical of the alt-country scene of the likes of Wilco, Sun Volt and The Jayhawks. The record will be I am sure be well appreciated by followers of whom.
Maurice Hope
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