The Whispering Tree – Bones of Better Days
There’s lots of music that’s not commercially viable or mainstream, but there’s a seasoning to this collection that can’t fail to attract a curious ear. The Whispering Tree has hints of Clannad, a little melancholy from the October Project, & with all that exemplary melodic setting, the music is determinedly individualistic.
The voices of El Kleiner (vocals) & Elie Brangbour (guitars/banjo/bass/ukulele/vocals/bgv/arrangements) possess character & personality. There’s a contrast as rich as the duets of Clive Gregson & Christine Collister or early Richard & Linda Thompson. Their music can be filled with solace & poignancy, but when the lead guitar soars through the beautiful melodies that separates good musicians from the superb. Evident in the first pieces on this set – “Bones of Better Days,” & “Atlantic City.” Excellent. Simply excellent.
There are eight Bones of Better Days (Drops Oct 1/Eyelash Soup/32:50), self-produced by this Beacon, NY duo. They touch upon folk, Americana, blues & with light country influences, they cover themes with equal measure: memory, identity, & reflection, which is more important than singing about beer, pickup trucks, tattoos, & the splendid state of inebriation. No, this duo takes a deeper dive. The LP teems with salvation narratives, explores outdated gender roles, self-worth & liberation. Lyrics are tight, creative & with little in the way of cliched ornamentation.
“By My Side” is outstanding. Their ballads don’t drag or get preachy. “Find a Man” has the upbeat accompaniment worthy of a Hoagy Carmichael songbook. However, while this is a cool saloon song, it could’ve come off like a suave easy listening cocktail lounge standard. So, while the duo explores identity & myths, others stay transfixed in commercial properties. But songwriting has a wide berth & the duo understands satire (“Bleeding Out In Hollywood”), cinematic lyrics, European melodic magic, & without being too radical or obnoxious. Most importantly, many songs have an optimistic curve & never resort to novelty for humor.
At no time do these new songs come across as deliberately drenched in folky elements. El & Elie seem to have a light setting at work that keeps everything logically elevated from traditional properties. Instead, they modify their tunes with the cherished musical memories of another era, which wisely updates each tune to fit comfortably in contemporary times.
At times, the duo sounds as challenging as Jane Relf (“Wanderer,” “Island”) & Annie Haslam (“Northern Lights”) of the progressive rock band Renaissance, who had a classical-music folk tilt in many of their compositions.
Highlights – “Bones of Better Days,” “Atlantic City,” “By My Side,” “Find a Man,” “Bleeding Out In Hollywood,” & “Nesting Doll.”
Musicians – Will Bryant (piano/organ), Nate Barnes (drums), Luke Cyrus Goetze (pedal lap steel), Eva Gerard, Lana Auerbach, Kathy Bosman & Erich Schoen-Rene (strings) with guest vocalists: Annalyse McCoy, Ryan Dunn, Georgia, Katie & Isabel Kleiner.
Color image courtesy of TheGingerB3Ardmen. CD @ Apple & Amazon + https://www.thewhisperingtree.com/
