Faltering Light
Strolling Bones, 2021
9/10
Athens, Georgia has historically never been short on great music, and this debut album from Haunted Shed continues that tradition as frontman Etienne de Rocher is joined by Dan Nettles (guitar), Joe Rowe (drums) and Jacob Morris (bass, cello) on a very diverse and exciting rock album.
“Archipelago” starts the listen with atmospheric keys as the opener leads into a busy, hazy display of a very absorbing instrumental prowess, and “Collections” follows with a driving pace of alt-rock that brings to mind the best work of Radiohead with its ‘90s appeal.
Further on, “Christmas Store” recruits acoustic guitar as plenty of melody enters the lush and meticulous climate that’s piano friendly, while “Umami Bomb” follows with precise interaction between the keys, drums and guitars as the setting is both cautious and adventurous amid some funk nods. “Innocence Of Man”, the best of the best, then flows with beauty and grace, where expressive singing and moments of charged rock are met with ebbs of sparse intrigue.
Closer to the end, “Button Inside Of My Soul” is a calm track of soulful, elegant songwriting that glows with modern-rock and psyche-pop, and “Hypno” exits the listen with hints towards earlier decades as ambience and dreaminess leave us wanting more time with the record.
Etienne has a lengthy and esteemed career in music that began in the Bay Area in the ‘90s, before moving to Georgia in 2008. Although Haunted Shed began as a spur of the moment band to soundtrack a haunted house for Halloween, since Faltering Light is one of the most interesting and memorable albums in the are of indie-rock in recent years, let’s hope this isn’t a one off effort.
Travels well with: Ron Gallo- Really Nice Guys; Peter Stampfel & The Bottle Caps- Demo ‘84