David Grubbs - The Spectrum Between

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

Label: Drag City
Format: CD

intro

The second solo album of David Grubbs is an exquisite combination of post Van Dyke Parks and new wave rock in the style of David Byrne. In his previous band, as one half of Gastro del Sol, there w

The second solo album of David Grubbs is an exquisite combination of post Van Dyke Parks and new wave rock in the style of David Byrne. In his previous band, as one half of Gastro del Sol, there was a fragile touch to the music and before that he was young, loud and snotty in Squirrel Bait. One could, however, not imagine being bitten by a squirrel here as continental European squirrels are very cuddly indeed and like rabbits. This album is rather excellent, but could easily be misunderstood by Europeans. David's songs have hooks, but there is also a lot of soul in his singing. His voice is clear, and graced with a gentle diction, leaving an impression of soft determination. "The Spectrum Between" deals with what is in between two shades of grey and the album very finely bridges post rock gaps by using popular melody. This allows Grubbs to put a lengthy intro to the gorgeous "Gloriette", but just when you feel this track is going to end up being a minimalistic guitar sketch, the melody line comes in and a ferocious guitar joyfully pulls you through the entire length of the song. "Gloriette" challenges your sense of time, but each moment counts on "The Spectrum Between", as it reflects the very concise idea of what music is about, the joy of performing, and throughout this album it is always there. Drag City Records have extensively mailed out "The Spectrum Between" to journalists, and on the booklet and sleeve notes that accompany the CD, this is spoofed with a fake e-bay auction of promos. The lay out focuses on journalists' hyping bids, and with all means of E-bay auctioning there, features lines from the bidding pages. I haven't got a credit card to visit E-Bay at all actually, and over here squirrel baits don't occur, but despite these transatlantic differences, David Grubbs shows us a most excellent refinement in popular composition.

Track Listing:-

1 Seagull and Eagull
2 Whirlweek
3 Stanwell Perpetual
4 Gloriette
5 A Shiver In The Timber
6 Show Me Who To Love
7 Pink Rambler
8 Preface
9 Two Shades Of Green

Band Links:-

http://darwilliams.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DarWilliamsOfficial
https://twitter.com/darwilliamstour

Label Links:-

http://www.dragcity.com/
https://twitter.com/dragcityrecords
https://www.facebook.com/dragcityrecords

interviews

Interview (2013)

Paul Waller talks to New York-based experimental musician and solo artist David Grubbs about his early years with influential hardcore bands Squirrel Bait and Bitch Magnet and his new album ‘The Plain Where the Palace Stood’

live reviews

Spitz, London, 12/6/2005

David Grubbs is best known for his work with Jim O' Rourke in post-rock group Gastr del Sol, but now has a three album solo career. Anthony Dhanendran watches him play a sometimes brilliant, but confusing set at the London Spitz

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

soundcloud

reviews

An Optimist Notes the Dusk (2008)

Melodically rich first album in four years from experimental New York-based musician David Grubbs, who has partially returned to form after a string of uninspiring albums