Langhorne Slim – The Dreamin’ Kind
This set by Nashville transplant Langhorne Slim invigorates the aging R&R genre with enthusiastic songs. Power chords? Absolutely. ‘70s style riffs? Of course. Layered arrangements? Skillfully. Slim spreads a more explorative version of rock by spreading the brown powdered sugar of soul, the white-grained fructose of folk & the steely threads of strings to reframe the musical art. And maybe somewhere in the ether – gain some new ears.
12 reveries are expressed in The Dreamin’ Kind (Dropped Jan 16/Dualtone/38:48) produced by Sam F. Kiszka (bass/piano/organ/keys/accordion/synths/mellotron/percussion). Rock music was about projecting a feeling. Listen to doo-wop music. Silly? Sure. Creative? Exceptionally so. It was a time when you’d go away with the melody & ‘papa-oom-mow-mow’ words resonating in your memory – all day.
Langhorne Slim (vocals/rhythm & acoustic guitars) isn’t recreating doo-wop, he tries to reassemble the subterranean feelings of an era, its acoustic inception, percussive heartbeat & driving spirit. The sonically sumptuous “Rock ‘n Roll” starts with its pub rock fluency (Brinsley Schwartz). As it rocks along, elements of the vocal hook are mindful of the Anti-Nowhere League’s “Queen & Country,” & Slade’s “Walking On Water, Running On Alcohol.”
A step away from that well-oiled heaviness, Slim adds Mat Davidson’s banjo to “Dream Come True.” Langhorne does run the risk of covering too many bases, but he’s a wise musician.
“Loyalty” is too brawny, but the punkish attitude & aggression work. The calculated balladry of “On Fire” & its spoken word slices are too early ‘60s for most ears, but again, Slim’s efforts are good & the backup vocals are genuinely on fire. “Stealin’ Time” is fine. Slim sings in a weepy-type Johnny Ray vocal layered with fiddle. That’s different.
With “Strange Companion,” Slim rips a page from Ragnar Kvaran’s “It’s All Different Now,” from 1979 & adds searing drive. What Langhorne needs is the production wizardry of Dave Alvin to flesh out the marrow. Kiszka produced this set skillfully, but the songs prick when they should be penetrating. “Dance On Thru” sparkles beautifully. The best of the lot in a Russ Tolman (“Marla Jane”) musical recipe. “Engine 99” is also notable. Lots of momentum, galloping drums, superb vocals & sound. Slim throws down the hammer & hits the damn bell.
Highlights – “Rock ‘n Roll,” “Dream Come True,” “Loyalty,” “Rickety Ol’ Bridge,” “Strange Companion,” “Haunted Man,” “Dance On Thru” & “Engine 99.”
Musicians – Cameron Neal (lead & lap steel guitar/piano), Mat Davidson (banjo/fiddle/pedal steel/vocals/bgv), Dan Hitchcock (sax), Daniel Wagner (drums/percussion/bgv/2nd guitar/vibro & bridge guitars/lead guitar), Omar Velasco & Omar Ruiz-Lopez (fiddles), Casey McAllister (organ/synth/synth bass), Jake Kiszka (veillete/bgv), Berry Hill (birds), Kristin Wilkinson (string session leader/orchestration/viola), Alex Crew (cello), David Angell & David Davidson (violins), Hannah Wicklund (outro guitar track 1), the Dreamin’ Singers & Jess Wolfe (bgv).
A folded lyric insert is included. Color image courtesy of Langhorne’s Facebook gallery. CD cover image by Kate LaMendola.
CD @ Bandcamp/Amazon & Apple + https://www.langhorneslimmusic.com/