Gravenhurst are principally Nick Talbot (who writes the songs plus plays guitar and other instruments) and drummer Dave Collingwood, although they operate as a four-piece, adding Robin Allender and Alex Wilkins when playing live.
‘The Western Lands’ is an album of supreme quality: ten songs, which vary in mood, though not drastically, from space-rock through to folk. Behind it all there is an underlying tinge of blues. The two album openers ‘Saints’ and especially so, ‘She Dances’ – a dark, bass-heavy song about singer Sandy Denny, lightened with soft, sensitive vocals and simple guitar – immediately convince the listener that this is one mighty polished, professional and sublime album.
Throughout, the atmospheric sounds conjure a myriad of images as the listener is effortlessly transported to a parallel plane. And yet, ‘Hollow Men’ fairly rocks along, whilst if Duanne Eddy had a sinister alter-being, he’d surely be playing guitar on the dark title track, ‘The Western Lands.’
‘Farewell, Farewell’ was a traditional folk song for which Richard Thompson wrote new lyrics, and was then recorded by Fairport Convention. The Gravenhurst version on this album has been given a bit of Sonic Youth – even Jesus And Mary Chain feel. Tremendous!
It’s perhaps unfair to liken this album to anything else as it really is in a class of its own, but for feel and atmosphere at least, Howling Bells spring to mind. Whatever, this is probably the classiest album you are likely to hear all year.
(Gravenhurst appear at Snafu: Aberdeen on 25th October, and King Tuts: Glasgow on 26th October)