Damn Tall Buildings – The Universe Is Hungry
This is a deliciously sounding trio of folk-bluegrass purveyors who’ve crafted an expressively fine 10-track album. They open with “The Simulator,” & “Thick Smoke,” & manage to lasso a listener’s ears instantly with the first notes of each song. Despite the delectable instrumentation, the vocals are the main source of attraction. Even by cut 3, “Can’t Slow Down,” the showcase is consistently captivating. There isn’t any hoi-polloi, hokum, or novelty distraction – just straight ahead easily accessible melodically-sound performances.
Where are they from? They’re from Brooklyn & they’re a good decade already into their career. Of course, being from such a place would mean they were buskers & yes, they were. Of course, the trio isn’t native Brooklynites. Violinist/vocalist Avery Ballotta is originally from Montana, Max Capistran (guitar/banjo/vocals) is from New Hampshire, & Sasha Dubyk (vocals/upright bass) is from Philadelphia, PA.
Their eccentric-oriented titles (“The Universe Is Hungry”) also lend a curious edge to their precision & pastiche. “Ease Your Mind” is the jewel in the crown. It rocks; it has momentum & Sasha’s wonderful voice is the glue. The self-produced album The Universe Is Hungry (Dropped October 24/ Independent/33:21) also has satisfying vintage stylizations like The Carter Family, a swipe at jazzy arrangements & they always keep the bluegrass charm.
It’s impressive to hear how diverse their sound is, considering they’re only three musicians, primarily who squeeze such smoky, cool notes from their fingers. Each tune is strong in its own way, including some that have an engaging air. Sasha’s expressive voice on Roy Orbison’s classic “Blue Bayou” is like hearing it for the first time. I don’t think bluegrass father Bill Monroe envisioned his music to come this far (it was predicted to fail, like rock ‘n’ roll) to be this beautiful & captivate in this way. But if he could hear this now, he’d smile from ear to ear.
This is one of the best, well-crafted albums of the year. Pristine, proficient instrumentation & just about every composition is fluent & fun, performed with finesse & sufficiently countrified. Their vocal enthusiasm is an easy sell.
Criticism? Of course. The album illustration does not suggest bluegrass-oriented music. It’s good art, but not accurate to its contents. The band’s name at the bottom is too dark, too small & not positioned ideally. I didn’t know this was a Damn Tall Buildings album. Better artwork would attract people who love bluegrass & are not familiar with this trio.
Musicians – Micha Cowher (drums), Lars Thorson (pedal steel) & Daniel Dubyk (accordion).
Highlights – “The Simulator,” “Thick Smoke,” “Can’t Slow Down,” “The Universe Is Hungry,” “Ease Your Mind,” “Turkish Airlines,” & “Blue Bayou.”
Color image courtesy of the band’s website photo gallery. CD @ https://www.damntallbuildings.com/
