On Our Way
Western Seeds, 2021
9/10
A Los Angeles outfit spearheaded by the multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Paul Lacques and Rob Waller, On Our Way also showcases Paul Marshall’s bass and vocals, and Victoria Jacobs’ drumming and singing, not to mention many guests, across 11 precisely crafted rural tunes on this 10th album.
“Might’ve Been Me” starts the listen with Dave Kirbel’s lively pedal steel and Jacobs’ proficient drumming complementing the crisp alt-country climate, and “On Our Way” follows with Ed Barguiarena’s precise organ alongside Paul Lacques’ fluid guitar work as classic country ideas enter the breezy, jangly delivery.
Moving along, “Kensington Market” places Jacobs on lead vocals as the warm Americana flows with much beauty in a psychedelic sort of way, while “Geronimo” spotlights Kirbel’s glowing pedal steel as folk, country and Americana meet at a timeless intersection. “Stealing”, one of the album highlights, then recruits Rich Dembowski and Woody Aplanalp on acoustic guitar and vocals in the poetic folk landscape.
Approaching the end, “Radio Keeps Me On The Ground” takes help from James Combs on acoustic guitar amid the reflective climate, and “How You Gonna Know?” exits the listen with a lengthy and unusual meshing of country, psychedelia and avant-garde rock exploration.
An album that was pieced together digitally during lockdown, though the band were put into a very precarious spot at the onset of the pandemic, they adapted to the changing times with a career highlight on this very charming and diverse listen.
Travels well with: The Long Ryders- Psychedelic Country Soul; The Jayhawks- XOXO