Electric Darlin’
Splice, 2019
8/10
The Houston based band of brothers return with their always thrilling, unpredictable sounds, and this time around the quartet are headed straight into experimental ideas on a live recorded album that tells the story of 2 fictional characters.
After the cautious guitar “Intro”, the album makes its way into the percussively rhythmic and warm vocals of “Fresh Water” that builds into a danceable folk tune with Samba influences. Elsewhere, “Hecla Hill” brings a darker spirit and louder setting, while “Pro And The Con” recruits acoustic strumming amid a busy display of incredible skill.
The back half of the album radiates a light and bouncy atmosphere with the hand clapping fun of “Here Comes The Night”, and the vocally expressive and musically sparse “Sing Your Praise”. Near the end, “Why The Chicken Crossed The Road” is a soulful, bluesy moment, and the title track uses strategic guitars on one of the album’s best, though, really, each song present radiates massive creativity.
A rapidly rising outfit who are much more than folk music, the Lankford brothers and adopted brother Caleb Pace are well versed in psyche-rock, classic rock, blues, country and Americana, but never unfolds in predictable patterns, and leaves an indelible impact.
Travels well with: Adam Carroll- I Walked In Them Shoes; The Waco Brothers- Going Down In History