Album Review // Megafaun – ‘Gather, Form & Fly’
With its blend of folk, country, jazz, Appalachian mountain music and the kitchen sink, at first blush, it’s impossible to pigeonhole Megafaun. Americana might come closest, but I’m not sure the genre has been named that adequately captures the full extent of their capabilities. On their new album,
Comprised of the members of “that band Bon Iver used to be in,” Joe Westerlund and brothers Brad and Phil Cook prove that they have nothing to prove at all and are doing just fine own their own. The North Carolina trio have an atmosphere all their own, and a pretty damn engaging one, at that.
The first four tracks have an orchestral feel, complete with strings, lilting melodies and magnificent harmonies. Oh, and lest I forget, some impressive banjo plucking throughout the entire affair. Opener “Bella Marie” is a nice introduction to the band’s sounds, a bit of a warm-up of things to come. “Kaufman’s Ballad,” based on the legend surrounding the failed cremation of Gram Parsons by his manager Phil Kaufman, retains the same genteel feel as its predecessor before picking up a haunting vocal turn. “The Fade” is more fleshed out still, and wouldn’t sound out of place in the 60s folk scene, musically if not lyrically. “Impressions of the Past,” in my mind, begins to truly show what Megafaun is capable of achieving sonically, starting as an almost anthemic track before devolving into noise experimentation before resuming a more formalize song structure. It struck me as almost Phish-like in its jam band sensibilities. “Worried Mind” continues to demonstrate the band’s width of influences, with its soft plucking and tender emotion. “Solid Ground” is a dirty, nasty blues song. Emotionally, it’s the cathartic point in the album where the band throws high art aspirations out the window and crafts a track that would make Howlin’ Wolf proud. Megafaun here adds barrelhouse piano, scorching low key electric guitar and some fiery harmonica work, all over a captivating group-sing vibe. Forget the fact that this is the best (or at least most satisfying) track on the CD; it’s worthy of one of the best tracks of the year so far. Now things take their weirdest turn yet, as the band begins to mix standard song structures with free form noise freak-outs, ranging in texture from early Pink Floyd to Phish’s “Faht” to the Beatles “Revolution 9.” The two main differences are the eponymous “Gather, Form and Fly” which sounds like Floyd’s “Seamus” if they decided to go slightly less bluesy and incorporate a banjo, and “The Longest Day,” which brings in some female vocals to spice things up. The anthemic “Guns,” jangly “Columns,” and experimental “Darkest Hour” are all over the place musically, each ending in that aforementioned free form noise freak-out. The album ends with the perfectly placed “Tides.” Its relaxed structure brings things back down to earth, showcasing none of the earlier eclectic experimentalism, instead focusing on their strengths as musicians and singers. – CD
Gather, Form & Fly is due out July 21st via Hometapes (download)
MP3: Megafaun – Solid Ground
Related Posts:
Rollo & Grady Interview with Joe Westerlund of Megafaun (click here)
