The Builders & the Butchers – No Tomorrow
This interesting treasure trove of 11 rural-mix of good banjo-driven upbeat tunes often includes creative, impulsive percussion with a rustic atmosphere. The penetrating, jubilant & splendid lead voice of Ryan Sollee (vocals/acoustic guitar) adds to the spirit of the LP. “World’s On Fire” kicks off the set, followed by “Blood/Death,” a more aggressive, inventive turn. If Tom Waits were more country-folk oriented, he might do something like this.
Now those opening tunes are good, but when “Mother Mary” slowly enters the speakers with its dry-witted Warren Zevon colorful language, with viola strains that resonate easily in the ears. Lines like “You won’t see me in heaven…” are heavy, delightful, & sets the shivers down your arms. It moves away from the traditional arrangements & goes a little deeper into a dark Americana – always keeping its appeal in check. Marvelous.
The rockiest tune on the set with lots of sprinkles, cream & chocolate sauce is “Save Me.” It has an early-REM attitude in its weave. Nice wall of sax notes enlivens it with a contagious sound. I love it. And these are only 4 songs deep into No Tomorrow (Dropped April 3/Badman Records/44:40) produced by Ray Rude (drums/percussion/pianos/organ/Jambone/sax/vocals) & the band The Builders & the Butchers. An impressive collaborative effort of original songs.
Despite its rural capacities, it’s a heavy-duty alternative set painted with lots of musical hues & colors. “Cold Fire Hymn” has its dark theme, but is percussive & exciting. A bit like Pere Ubu’s late David Thomas (“Breath”) vocally, when the band began to perform more accessible tunes.
The band has such a wonderfully varied group of musicians that their sound is distinctively colorful & surprising throughout. “Rise My Son” is a creative rocker with off-kilter appeal. Borderline Americana-punk. The Portland-born band’s “One-Winged Bird” has good guitar work & drum interaction at the coda. “Fire In the Sky” is not as engaging but has its appeal in its chamber-pop approach.
The two closing tunes come across with a frenetic Wall of Voodoo/Stan Ridgway tradition, but not as quirky. “Bad Blood” & “A Wall/A Fire” have good acoustic guitars & continue gloriously in the Wall of Voodoo posture but without their avant-garde calories. The Builders & the Butchers never lose sight of their heavy precipitation style. And that’s what’s most penetrating about their music. Bundle up, this is invigorating & brisk stuff.
Highlights – “World’s On Fire,” “Blood/Death,” “Mother Mary,” “Save Me,” “Cold Fire Hymn,” “Rise My Son,” “One-Winged Bird,” “Fire In the Sky,” “Bad Blood” & “A Wall/A Fire.”
Musicians – Willy Westerly (bass/guitar), Justin Baier (drums), Harvey Tumbleson (electric & acoustic guitars/banjo/Bouzouki/dulcimer), Paul Seely (electric & acoustic guitars/vocals) with Matthew Radtke (viola/upright bass/piano) & Erin Danielle (vocals).
B&W image courtesy of the band’s Facebook gallery. CD @ Bandcamp & Apple & Amazon + https://www.thebuildersandthebutchers.com/albums/no-tomorrow/