Grand Marais
Bedlamb, 2023
8/10
A collection of songs recorded over 3 days back in 2014, these raw tracks captured the depression that Erik Sanden (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Joe Reyes (guitar, vocals) sorted through after their father’s passed away, using just guitar and bass.
“Cry Sailor Cry” starts the listen with mesmerizing guitar and very emotive singing in the bare but impactful delivery, and “Opening Band” follows with a more firm approach of folk ideas amid some mysterious atmosphere for effect.
In the middle, the cleverly titled “Morrissey For Company” carries an intimate dreaminess thanks to the flowing vocal harmonies, while the firm and melodic “It’s A Laugh” is a fuzzy album highlight.
At the end, “I Love You” and “I Can’t” are both poetic, where the former is simultaneously gentle and loud, and the latter showcases charming bass lines alongside the careful acoustic guitar and calm singing.
Originally deemed unusable at the time, the songs seem more appropriate than ever following the pandemic, and the minimal instruments and bouts of psychedelic moments help cultivate an anti-folk formula that could somehow even apply to the punk crowd.
Travels well with: Julian Taylor- Beyond The Reservoir; Scott Clay- Let It All Lay Bare