Arboretum

Suffering that weird, "what does this remind me of" syndrome with tracks from Arboretum's third album, I demoed it for a couple of other music nerds. I got Parts and Labor from one and Gordon Lightfoot from the other. They're both right. And that's part of the appeal of the band. David Heumann has that spooky touch that folks like Jason Molina possess to make a song sound at once totally in the moment and decades old. Song of the Pearl sees a new but stable line-up of players adept at mixing a loose Crazy Horse vibe with Fairport Convention's upright folkiness. Yes, it's possible (see "Infinite Corridors," if you doubt). Heumann and Steve Strohmeier riff their guitars around hints of melody lines with either a delicate touch ("Down By the Fall Line") or fireworks ("The Midnight Cry"). Heumann's warm vocal style falls into vibrato when the emotion hits just right, giving the songs a hint of urgency. Whatever Song of the Pearl reminds you of on first listen it will likely slide up alongside one of your favourite classics quite easily.