Giant Sand - Returns to Valley of Rain
by Steve Kinrade
published: 13 / 10 / 2018
Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
In our 'Re:View' section, Steve KInrade examines seminal Americana act Giant Sand's latest album 'Returns to Valley of Rain', which is a reworking of their 1985 debut album, 'Valley of Rain'.
It would be egregious to admit that before this album was lashed into my porch by Her Majesty’s finest, that I was au fait with the career of Giant Sands. Fronted by the constant member and creative driving force - Howe Gelb - this Tucson Troubadour has been releasing music for quite a while now. 'Valley of Rain' was first released in 1985, the fruits of labour well spent holed up in a studio, running up a bill of $400. Fast-forward some thirty odd years, and Gelb and conspirators have revisited the first Giant Sand musical milestone, recording as “live” 'Valley Of Rain' over one and half days, but still running up a tab of four hundred bucks...Now that’s efficiency, given the rate of inflation. I am, however, somewhat sceptical at the idea of revisiting works of art. In this case, much has been made of this is how the album should have sounded if Fender tubes had been used initially, rather than the available Roland JC120’s...This is interesting, but where should the revisionist line be drawn? Think of your favourite works of art, musical, sculpture, painting - whatever; can you imagine the artist thinking, “Its been some time now, I’m going to re-paint (insert title here)”. Would this detract from the meaning, power, cultural significance of the original? Interesting thought, and perhaps an even more interesting opening conversational gambit to pursue in the Tate Modern members bar... But was this project worthwhile? Well, I am going to say a resounding yes! If it hasn’t done anything else, it has introduced me to the musical world of Gelb and the revolving door of Giant Sand band membership, and the sheer quality of their output. Loud and quiet, these are songs that are steeped in authenticity. Gelb’s voice is a viscous of Americana truth, probably being due to being soaked over night, every night, in a barrel of cigarette stubs and unfinished bourbon. His voice on 'Artists' is a case in point. The running order from the 1985 original has changed, which again is an artistic statement in itself. Believe you me, much thought and stressing is taken into account over this. So here we have the tremendous 'Tumble and Tear' opening proceedings, where as on the original was 'Down On Town (Loves No Answer)'. Both great opening tracks, but 'Tumble and Tear'' here edges it, especially with Gelb twice drawling the title; a seductive invitation. 'Returns to Valley of Rain' serves as a productive exercise in the re-evaluation of an artistic process, which is an interesting intellectual distraction for us beard-strokers out here in post hipster land. But it also, to greater effect, highlights the crystal clarity of just how great Giant Sand are, and how important Gelb and the numerous et al have been, and can continue to be. It's all there. You just have to look.
Track Listing:-
Also In ReView
Andreas Dorau (2022)
Andrew Gold (2023)
Anthony Moore (2022)
Bark Psychosis (2018)
Beatles (2023)
Bert Jansch (2020)
Bert Jansch (2019)
Beth Orton (2014)
Big Eyes Family (2021)
Billy Idol (2018)
Bitter Springs (2021)
Blind Mr Jones (2015)
Blondie (2022)
Blue Nile (2014)
Bodines (2023)
Boyracer (2023)
Breathless (2016)
Brinsley Schwarz (2017)
Cardiacs (2014)
Chvrches (2014)
David Bowie (2022)
David Gray (2020)
Death and Vanilla (2016)
Donald Fagen (2021)
Doug Dillard Expedition (2024)
Earthworks (2020)
Flamin Groovies (2015)
Gene Clark (2019)
Giant Sand (2020)
Gomez (2018)
Gong (2015)
Grace Jones (2016)
Grace Jones (2014)
Graham Day and the Forefathers (2019)
Hawks (2021)
Hawkwind (2022)
Hot Pepper (2018)
Ian A. Anderson (2021)
Ian Dury (2021)
Iron Butterfly (2014)
John Cooper Clarke (2016)
Joni Mitchell (2021)
Keith Richards (2022)
Lapre (2020)
Lemonheads (2022)
Loft (2021)
Madness (2014)
McCarthy (2015)
Mercury Rev (2019)
Miscellaneous (2020)
Miscellaneous (2014)
Monochrome Set (2015)
Mothmen (2015)
Motorpsycho (2015)
New Leaf (2022)
New Musik (2023)
One Thousand Violins (2023)
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (2015)
Orchids (2023)
Party Day (2021)
Pele (2017)
Phil Alvin (2015)
Phil Ochs (2016)
Primitives (2015)
Prolapse (2022)
Roger Mcguinn (2018)
Rubik (2021)
Sorrow (2018)
T. Rex (2023)
Television Personalities (2018)
Terry Allen (2016)
Thin Lizzy (2023)
Townes Van Zandt (2015)
Trashmen (2020)
Ty Segall (2022)
UB40 (2015)
Various (2022)
Various (2022)
VIPS (2020)
Wolfhounds (2015)
Zz Top (2018)
Band Links:-
http://howegelb.com/https://en-gb.facebook.com/giantgiantsand
https://twitter.com/giantsand
Have a Listen:-
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2004) |
Back with their first album in four years, Giant Sand have returned with an almost entirely new line-up. Frontman Howe Gelb talks about the departure of his regular band mates John Convertino and Joey Burns, and the new album‘, Is All Over...The Map’ |
Interview (2004) |
favourite album |
Ramp (2020) |
Adrian P examines Giant Sand’s much-cherished 1991 studio album once more, which Fire Records have rebooted once more with a renewed double-disc edition. |
bandcamp
reviews |
Recounting The Ballads of Thin Line Men (2019) |
For his second re-recording of an early-Giant Sand album, Howe Gelb leads the way through a skewed refashioning of 1986’s ‘Ballad of a Thin Line Man’ |
Blurry Blue Mountain (2010) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Madeline Bell - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Jimmy Nail - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Deep Purple - =1
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
related articles |
Lonna Kelley: Interview (2019 |
Solo artist and Giant Sand member Lonna Kelley speaks to John Clarkson about her first single in four years, 'Will I See You?', and her new band Ard Eevin which includes Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley on drums. |
Howe Gelb: Favoutite Album (2016) |
Calexico: Live Review (2015) |
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart