Kurt Lee Wheeler – Lathemtown
Some albums just open with delight. Kurt has an individualistic voice. Despite it being hard to understand lyrics in the mix of “Faces,” the song rolls along, feet tapping, & the music seeps warmly into your pores. Acoustic guitars, mandolin & banjo are excellently hopping arm-in-arm down the avenue. Good little tune with enough enthusiasm to dismiss the lack of understanding of all the words. Kurt’s voice is natural for well-fortified songs such as this & the coda “Cherokee County.”
“Bus Depot” continues with better vocal clarity & the artillery of superb picking by all the instrumentalists shines. This, with the addition of a fiddle. It’s bluegrass threaded with gusto. The tradition is there, but Kurt certainly adds a modern twist. The picking comes through with marvelous precision. When Kurt sings slower, his voice becomes even more distinctive & illuminated. A cover of the Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These” offers that treatment. Cool, sensitive & with a touch of a darker musical weight.
There are 13 ways to understand the town of Lathemtown (Dropped Oct 17/Independent/50:02), Georgia, as warmly produced by Jeff Partin (bass/acoustic guitar/dobro/bgv). With “First Choice,” Kurt is joined by Jesse Williams & together they weave an atmospheric upbeat number with dynamic picking that still dominates the arrangement.
The album is nostalgic, runs a tender finger across the rim of topics about everyday struggles, resilience, & with a stripped-down approach, home. Nothing is bombastic or pretentious. It’s almost what the late Nick Drake & John Martyn would’ve perhaps attempted had their careers not been cut short. There’s a melancholy delicacy to some melodies. But not as a downer. More in the tradition of reminiscence.
The prolific musicians make even the lesser moments strong with their wonderful melodic playing. But mind you, the lesser moments are still stronger than the average artist. Kurt is skillful with his music; his earthy vocals & the ever-energetic arrangements keep everything percolating. The songs are applicable in pubs as well as in bedrooms late at night, with eyes closed, listening on headphones.
Highlights – “Faces,” “Bus Depot,” “Times Like These,” “First Choice,” “Portland,” “Cactus Flower,” & “Cherokee County.”
Musicians – Aaron Ramsey (mandolin/banjo), Jake Stargel (guitar), & John Rich (fiddle).
Color image courtesy of Kurt’s website photo gallery. CD image courtesy of Darby Rose. CD @ http://lathemtownpoetsociety.com/