You Don’t Have To Know
Soundly, 2021
10/10
Listen to You Don’t Have To Know
Perhaps best known as one third of the Boston trio Lula Wiles, on her own, Eleanor Buckland certainly retains the folk-rock spirit of her full band, and also embraces indie-rock and even pop into her very personal song craft that welcomes plenty of esteemed help.
“Don’t Look Down” starts the listen and makes a strong impression with Buckland’s smooth vocals alongside Sam Gleason’s shimmering guitar and Justin Ruppel’s punchy drumming in the glorious folk-rock, and “I’m Not Saying” follows with acoustic guitar from Adam Iredale-Gray and saxophone courtesy of Edwin Sheard as the setting turns calmer with a breezy, introspective approach.
Near to the middle, “Static” has Buckland displaying her acoustic guitar prowess amid the stylish indie-rock that’s tinted with some Americana though still being quite danceable, while “Resignation” enters darker areas of atmosphere as much beauty surrounds the dreamy, restrained landscape. “October”, a particularly memorable tune, although every selection here is fantastic, then welcomes Steve Foster on harmony vocals alongside the indie-pop ideas that reside closer to balladry.
“Wishing Is Useless” arrives near the end and offers a bare, emotive delivery where Buckland illustrates much range with her voice, and “You Don’t Have To Know” exits the listen with a precisely textured finish that has Mairi Chaimbeul on synth, flutes from Anh Phung and Elise Boeur’s harmony vocals for a profound exploration that even flirts with prog-rock in a hazy sort of way.
An album that required a lot of self-examination, Buckland knows her way around an intimate song that will make you want to mull things over, just as she does a soaring rocker that you’ll play as loud as possible, and her strong attention to melody and song structure will likely leave you as enamored with her work as I am.
Travels well with: Single Girl, Married Girl- Three Generations Of Leaving; Anya Hinkle- Eden And Her Borderlands