The Binoculars – Double Whammy
Strange. It starts with the classic Anton Karas melody “Third Man Theme” – from the motion picture “The Third Man” & a hit for Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the ’60s & revised nicely as an interlude during The Band’s “Last Waltz” concert. But here, a bright fiddle, pristine acoustic guitar offer a nice introduction to the Brooklyn-based Binoculars (Kaethe Hostetter – violin/guitar/vocals), & Chloe Swantner — violin/guitar/lap steel/vocals).
At first, I thought it was an all-instrumental album, but track 2, “Blue Railroad Train,” has a beautiful shade of voices reminiscent of, wait for it, this one’s obscure, the Bob Crewe-produced “Spin Around” (on YouTube under Hedy) & “Playing Hard To Get” by Hedy, Freddie & Mee Too (1961). I never thought I’d make that comparison. That 1961 tune didn’t have bright strings like the Binoculars’ new showcase, but the vocals are wonderfully expressive in how they’re applied to the railroad tune.
The set is more string-instrumental, but many are movie-themed. 14 varied tunes make up their debut Double Whammy (Drops July 17/Jalopy Records/46:58), produced by Joseph DeJarnette at Greenpoint Recording Collective in Brooklyn.
Cut 4 finds the group applying their Appalachian-Americana textures skillfully with a stunning near-Roches vocal harmonic treatment to “Why Cry For You” & “You’re Running Wild.” Impressively done. Whereas “La Rosita” has the mysterious Gothic stylizing that would be found in the glorious French cult film “The City of Lost Children.” At least, that’s the image that instantly came to my mind.
As the album proceeds, songs get more mainstream, with the high-lonesome textured “Lookout Heart” that’s sung wonderfully with energy & an upbeat ballyhoo country melody & vocal by Chloe Swantner on the long-lost ’60s tune. There are times the duo sounds a bit like another dual-violin female group who play with melody & fire – Burning Bridget Cleary.
Their vocals have harmony, but there are some rough vocal spots (“Stop Running Wild”) redeemed by the excellent playing & overall performance. The recording has a vintage flavor but not necessarily retro, & it that makes it all the more charming to listen to. The music is a blend of classic country & western shared with care among foreign folk, bluegrass & Tex-Mex to make quite an interesting cross-section of styles. The duo manages to update the vintage titles with style, respect, & then embellish them with dazzle. Nothing disappoints.
Highlights – “Third Man Theme,” “Blue Railroad Train,” “Why Cry For You,” “La Rosita,” “Lookout Heart,” “Ethiopian Tango,” “You’re Running Wild,” & “La Brise Napolitaine.”
Color image courtesy of the duo’s Bandcamp site. CD @ Amazon & Bandcamp + https://thebinoculars.bandcamp.com/album/double-whammy & https://nicklosseatonmedia.com/brooklyn-americana-duo-the-binoculars-dust-off-long-lost-60s-arkansas-gem-lookout-heart-as-lead-single-from-forthcoming-debut/
Song Premiere: Song Premiere: The Binoculars “Lookout Heart”