"The flute player is called Ethan and the bass player is also called Ethan."
"Oh really?"
"No, O'Reilly!"
I began this review with that old chestnut just to be different as the album itself is quite different - in the nicest possible way, I hasten to add.
The difference is in the form of some video footage (which can be purchased separately) that I had a reviewer's privilege of being able to watch whilst at the same time listening to the band playing live at SubCulture in NYC. The film was shot in those pre-pandemic days when the band were touring and gigging across the United States.
Nevertheless, as stunning as the scenes in the film are, the music is strong enough to stand on its own ten feet allowing the listener to create his own imagery that may or may not parallel those on the film.
The suite, American Whispers weaves its way through the album and, I quote, "representing the tension between humanity and the natural world."
As befits the ever changing locale, there are moments of pastoral beauty with both hornmen expressing themselves in a gentle, almost introspective, mode. At other times they no longer do gentle but instead unleash the decibels with wild, frantic tempestuous sounds. As this composition was written, as all of them were, by Helm during the Trump era maybe it had little to do with the weather. Helm goes on to say that "when we are on the road we have no idea who voted for whom but people everywhere come together and enjoy the music. I can't help but think that's meaningful."
Meaningful indeed!
Not an album to categorise - there are so many twists and turns - but one to enjoy with or without the video.
Our Highway is due to be released on Feb. 26 visit here for more info.
Lance
1) American Whispers: Pines.
2) Alice [Coltrane] in Promised Land.
3) American Whispers: Streams - An Old Church,
4) Where is Your Wealth.
5) Gig Life - American Whispers: Mountains.
6) The Farmer's Reason.
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