Springtime
Joyful Noise, 2021
8/10
A supergroup consisting of Gareth Liddiard (The Drones, Tropical Fuck Storm), Jim White (Xylouris White, Dirty Three) and Chris Abrahams (The Necks), as Springtime the trio blend art-rock, experimental sounds, free jazz and improvisation into a formula that is truly all their own.
“Will To Power” starts the listen with warm piano and playful drumming, where deep, raw vocals enter a climate that builds into a powerful, hypnotic delivery, and “The Viaduct Love Suicide” follows with calm keys amid a dreamy backdrop as expressive storytelling enters a darker approach.
In the middle, “Jeanie In A Bottle” moves with mystery that includes atmospheric drumming and hazy keys to punctuate the mood, while “She Moved Through The Fair” offers a melancholic version of lounge jazz and folk ideas that welcome gritty vocals and sparing but effective keys.
The final two tracks continue the creative, unpredictable nature of the album, where “West Palm Beach” builds into a cathartic, tense psyche-rocker with crashing drums and thick guitar, and “The Killing Of The Village Idiot” simmers poetically and also gets firm, nearly chaotic, but is still quite controlled in their inimitable skill.
An album with much attention paid to ambience, whether the setting is intimate or turbulent, Springtime’s members bring a wealth of talent and much experience to an unclassifiable experience that’s both cryptic and enlightening.
Travels well with: Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog- Hope; Evolfo- Site Out Of Mind