Songs:Ohia
Posted by: Peter Stockwell on 16 July 2003
On recommendation from Nick Lees, I ordered Ghost Tropic. This time I concur with Nick's taste. It's very stark and spare, although one of the songs reminds me of acoustic Led Zeppelin. Often, Joe Molina, the singer, is likened to Neil Young. I don't get that flavour at the moment, I'm more inclined to say Gillian Welch or Jessie Sykes.
The recording is huge, i.e. loads of space in the sound, and when it's there, rarely, stomach rumbling bass and a very natural acoustic. There's almost no melody to this recording, but I wouldn't want to say it doesn't have any tune. It's just that the tempi are so slow and the instrumentation so spare, that it's not exactly a singalong experience. For that try the Jayhawks 'Rainy Day Music'.
cheers all
Peter
The recording is huge, i.e. loads of space in the sound, and when it's there, rarely, stomach rumbling bass and a very natural acoustic. There's almost no melody to this recording, but I wouldn't want to say it doesn't have any tune. It's just that the tempi are so slow and the instrumentation so spare, that it's not exactly a singalong experience. For that try the Jayhawks 'Rainy Day Music'.
cheers all
Peter
quote:
Originally posted by Alan Ball:
Peter,
For a more melodic "Songs: Ohia" selection try "Access & Ace" or "The Lioness". ...(Joe Molina was a witness in the JFK assassination trial btw.)
Both these albums are quite heart-wrenching in places but are the highlights of the more acoustic offerings. The latest, "Magnolia Electric Co" is a lot heavier in parts and is more like Neil Young in his 'Crazy Horse' days.
-A-
Sorry about the Molina mix-up ( a molinette ?
). I like Ghost tropic, it's nice to lurch into the 21st century, when I find it hard to get out of the 70s.Peter