Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 5 / 5 Reviewer: Kevin Hartford |
Loch Lomond’s switch from one local Portland label (Hush Records) to another (Tender Loving Empire) appears to have brought with it a remarkable change in songwriting and production quality; Little Me Will Start A Storm completely demolishes all of the band’s previous efforts.
Storm wisely exploits frontman Ritchie Young’s unique vocal range. He changes his pitch from earnestly high to soberingly low, often within the same song, a change drastic enough to make you think he’s two different singers. The almost-twee crooning on ‘Elephants & Little Girls’ bears little resemblance to the morose chorus of ‘Alice Left With Stockings And Earrings’ or the shouty Celtic folk of ‘Blood Bank Me.’ The arrangement and presentation helps, too – some adept decisions were made as to when Young should go high or low, harmonize with himself, pull back or let loose. You’re likely not to notice the repetitive guitar on Storm‘s catchy lead single, ‘Blue Lead Fences,’ since Young’s voice is doing all the heavy lifting. Vocal gymnastics might be a better term.
Despite being a band whose members, depending on the year, number from one to nine to six, despite using multiple, varied instruments (guitar, clarinet, sawblade), despite having song titles like ‘Alice Left With Stockings And Earrings,’ Loch Lomond manages to never tumble into that insufferable category of dorkestra. Everything on Storm adds something to the proceedings – even the frenzied clapping at the end of ‘Blood Bank Me’ feels appropriate and necessary. This is dusty, melodic folk at its finest.
