Two Gallants - Scenery of Farewell

  by Chris O'Toole

published: 8 / 8 / 2007

Label: Saddle Creek
Format: CD

intro

All acoustic new EP from country punks Two Gallants recorded on tour at sound checks and on the tour bus, the follow up to their rapturously received Saddle Creek debut, What the Bell Tolls', from last year

With their Saddle Creek debut, 'What the Bell Tolls', receiving rapt applause from critics and fans alike Two Gallants have had a busy year and a half. Extensive touring of the record, including briefly at the All Tomorrows Parties festival early in the year, has meant the group have been unable to produce a full length follow up, and as such have released 'The Scenery of Farewell EP' in the interim. All acoustic performances, recorded during the American leg of their most recent tour at sound checks and on the tour bus, the collection of five sombre pieces marks a startling, at least temporary, departure from the attributes that bought the duo their recent fame. The EP is loaded with morose, mournful pieces; detailing the loneliness of the road, the hardship of departure and the dynamics of (now) long distance relationships. Gone are the raucous, punk styled, country barnstormers that infused their earlier work with an urgent vitality. In are slow burning ballads and introspection. This change however is a positive one. There is still an immense emotional weight to the recordings, stripped as they are to principally an acoustic guitar and drums. The crash heavy stick work of Tyson Vogel has been simplified, allowing attention to focus more readily on the pure, oak-y voice of Adam Stephens. Opener 'Seems Like Home To Me' is case in point with Stephens singing a ballad for loneliness with a sincerity seemingly beyond his years. From the initial yelp onward the piece is an everyman's tale that all can identify with, packed with minuscule details of the separation from a loved one. Again the acoustic focus shifts focus onto Stephens lyrics which again stand up well; rye observations mix with humoured filled iconoclasm to demonstrate a real poetic twist. 'Up The County' is the slowest track included on the release. The black humour that characterises the record is absent and a harmonica is included, giving the piece a heavy, oppressive air. The mournful narrative of failure details a weary traveler without a direction home and the vocal contribution portrays the character with a real verve. The country theme continues for 'All Your Faithless Loyalties', again filled with swinging chair on the porch harmonica, sparse drumming and fantastic departure filled imagery. Flourishes of violin add poignancy and build a real sense of the heartache the song tries to convey. Closer 'Linger On' completes a the trio, marking the nadir of the emotions explored in the previous two tracks, exposing love as the painful and losing game it so often seems to be in the deep south of America. Whilst only a short snippet of a record 'The Scenery of Farewell' provides a magnified interpretation of Two Gallants. Stripped of their studio production the bare honesty of their work is allowed to shine, more akin to their 'Throes' album than their more recent output. This intriguing and under-rated band are going from strength to strength and it is surely just a matter of time before they receive the break they deserve.

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