by Mike Faloon
Big Kitty
Recordings of Ferns LP
Teaberry Records
Last spring yielded a treasure trove of new finds, an embarrassment of riches — Wayne Hancock, Treasure Fleet, Robyn Hitchcock, the Evens, Ebo Taylor. Everywhere I looked I found compelling, wonderfully disparate sounds; I could barely keep up. That’s why I stopped looking for awhile. It’s foolish to take in more new records with so many rewarding discs cued up.
The most appealing of the bunch was the latest Big Kitty record, Recordings of Ferns. I came into the album hoping for more of the ramshackle kind-of country, kind-of indie rock that marked 2011’s Florence (Recess Records). But Ferns is more stripped down. It’s also odder and more conceptual. And though Ferns stakes out different territory, it’s Florence’s equal.
The basic template for this baker’s dozen is Clark Williams on some manner of acoustic instrument, double tracking — sometimes triple tracking — his vocals. To me, it’s the country album Ray Davies and Brian Wilson never made together. To others it’ll likely evoke Dylan. But that’s first draft thinking. Clark Williams is a first rate talent with his own voice. That was pretty clear on Florence. It’s more apparent on Recordings of Ferns. In part, that assertion is based on the album’s liner notes. Williams chronicles a day spent with Mickey Dobo, “recorder of ferns.” The tone of the notes is charming and loopy. They remind me of Richard Brautigan. Is there a concept album lurking in lyrics? Could be, but I haven’t cracked the code yet. Too busy humming along with the melodies.
http://www.recordingsofferns.com/
http://bigkitty.bandcamp.com/album/recordings-of-ferns
Comments