Josh Kimbrough – Slither, Soar & Disappear
Tompkins Square – Out Now
Apparently, North Carolina guitarist Josh Kimbrough‘s urge to make a solo record struck him when he was relaxing with his baby son on his deck, appreciating quietude and nature and pondering music where his guitar could become ‘part of the chorus of natural sounds’. For this effect, Josh gently embellished his tunes with a sympathetic range of instruments throughout; all played with perfect consideration of the heart of the piece. Take third track ‘Backyard Hawk’ as an example; Josh’s part sounds like it is played on a nylon string guitar, which immediately gives the song a delicate feel that the addition of banjo and a lovely flute line, carefully woven in, balances.
The same can be said for songs like ‘Glowing Treetops‘, where hand drums, fiddle and cello add drama to steel-string guitar. This is undoubtedly a deeper and more serious piece than ‘Backyard Hawk’, with various scraps of sound subtly crouching in the peripheries giving it an uncertain feel. All of the instruments sound great and add to the mood of the piece, with bass and cello providing more unease and the fiddle notes hovering above. Further on, ‘Squirrel in the Leaves’ gives us a gorgeously gentle and innocent little tune that removes all of the edge of ‘Treetops’ in favour of a sweet acoustic ditty and a deep bassline. Changing its tune partway through, after a pause letting in bird sounds, a more melancholy refrain shifts the focus, before a brushed drum signals a brighter third section. The nature sounds continue through to ‘Booker Creek Ripple’, another chirpier tune, probably my favourite, seeing Wilson Greene’s welcome banjo re-enter the mix to enhance a simple melody with subtle bass notes a step back. It’s another example of how carefully the instrumentation has been arranged across Slither. Although it is undoubtedly a guitar record, the supporting cast, while always serving the focal instrument, are invaluable, their contributions always lifting already ace songs.
At the tail end of the set, we have a couple of slowies that bring things to a rather beautiful close. ‘Simon’s Lullaby’ combines a softly played minor-key guitar part with a rich cello line and some ethereal flute. The banjo hides behind the guitar, just heard, but the flute and cello give this one its flavour, stepping to the fore at points to control the mood, especially the sweeping cello notes halfway through. Final track ‘Eyes on the Moon’ strips things back and again focuses on the guitar as a central focus, although the subtle droning cello part is effective, especially when coupled with the sparse bass notes. Ultimately, this gorgeous little track, much like the album as a whole, is a celebration of the versatility and nuances of the acoustic guitar. Slither, Soar and Disappear is a triumph of considered, elegant playing and arranging, and the whole album is a real treat for anybody appreciating the beauty of strong, unassuming musicianship working on many levels to create something far more than the sum of its parts.
Order Slither, Soar & Disappear
Physical: http://www.tompkinssquare.com/releases.html
Digital: https://tompkinssquare.bandcamp.com/album/slither-soar-disappear