Vetiver - To Find Me Gone
by Jon Rogers
published: 29 / 5 / 2006
Label:
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Format: CD
intro
Gorgeous second album of pastoral folk rock from Vetiver, which includes a guest appearance from frontman Andy Cabic's former housemate Devendra Banhart
Whatever some advertising exec has thought up this week, the loose collective of musicians focused around Andy Cabic probably don't give a fuck. Cabic, one time housemate of Devendra Banhart (who makes a guest appearance), on this Vetiver's second album, has really found his forte. 'To Find Me Gone'is a collection of gorgeously soft, whispy songs that although soothing are more stimulating and envigorating rather than somnamublistic. The album was largely written on the road whilst Cabic was touring with Banhart and that environment goes to the heart of the record with its themes of travel, departure and arrival; even dislocation. The album's title effectively sums it all up. Musically there are heavy shades of the pastoral folk of Fairport Convention and Pentangle along with the 70s West Coast rock scene of Neil Young and Harry Nilsson and a touch of Creedence Clearwater Revival. There's even a hint or two of Bob Dylan at his most mellifluous and contemplative. Songs like 'I Know No Pardon' and opener 'Been So Long' hardly break the rules of this musical genre but give it a tidy up and a fresh coat of paint and are beautiful exercises on masterful songwriting. Vetiver can pick up the pace when required too. 'Red Lantern Girls'and the closing 'Down at El Rio' can shake a leg when required, although admittedly they probably need a lie down afterwards. For the most part 'To Find Me Gone'is a languorous, dream-like record, one that lingers in the mind well after it has finished and, as such, is a little gem of a find.
Track Listing:-
1 Been so Long2 You May Be Blue
3 No One Word
4 Idle Ties
5 I Know No Pardon
6 Maureen
7 The Porter
8 Double
9 Red Lantern Girls
10 Won't Be Me
11 Down at El Rio
live reviews |
|
Lyric Theatre, London, 4/6/2005 |
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| Vetiver is fronted by American Andy Cabic andalso the side project of folk hippy Devendra Banhart. in the hushed environment of London's Lyric Theatre Anthony Dhanendran watches them play an impressive set of experimental alt. country |
reviews |
|
Between (2005) |
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| Slow, melodic alt-country rock on new EP from Vetiver, the group of Virginian Andy Cabic, which also features the much acclaimed Devendra Banhart on guitar |
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