Coin Collection
Yk, 2020
8/10
Spencer Cullum has an impressive resume that includes backing up Miranda Lambert and Deertick, among many others, as well as being half of the instrumental duo that is Steelism. On this debut solo outing, however, he takes up lead vocal duties across 8 tunes that channel his inner folky, prog-rocker, as a handful of esteemed players like Caitlin Rose, Andrew Combs and Herman Dune contribute their skills.
“Jack Of Fools” starts the album with plenty of atmosphere where Brit-folk ideas unfold with dual gender vocal harmonizing as psychedelic stabs enter the dreamy setting, and “To Be Blinkered” follows with plenty of retro-qualities as the sound of birds backdrop hazy and string friendly exploration.
At the halfway point, “Imminent Shadow” is a pretty display of warm folk sounds as hypnotic guitar and bare percussion make an impression, while “Dieterich Buxtehude” unfolds with an initially ominous quality that builds into a beat driven, dance-friendly climate that’s spacey and entirely instrumental.
At the end, “My Protector” offers a tense and adventurous 5+ minutes of blurry psyche-rock, and “The Tree” exits the listen almost as if a lullaby that’s a bit off kilter, which, of course, is part of the charm.
An album that certainly embraces the traditions of his current Nashville home as well as his English roots, Cullum mashes synth and twang here that even flirts with Krautrock and Brit-pop. Though he’s most known for his pedal steel work, here he showcases another avenue of his creative spirit, and it’s quite absorbing.
Travels well with: Andrew Combs- Ideal Man; Aaron Lee Tasjan- Karma For Cheap