While Colorado
isn’t defined by the soft and homely vibes put out by King Cardinal, in fact
some very heavy acts have escaped, we
present them to you as an escape from
the pressing issues of the angry white boy… you know, diversity people.
The second release
King Cardinal brings us, Once a Giant
is a graceful mashup of Bluegrass, Folk, Singer-Song-Writer, and a little of
what you would call “Country” for flavour. Now I know what you Rockers are
thinking, but stop. You gotta grow up and get out more. I’ll say it myself, I
was a foolish sceptic from the start, but it wasn’t long before I pressed play
and was instantly regretful.
I tend to overlook
this sort of genre of music, as it is literally everywhere in this part
of the state, but I gave it a shot, and the rest of the world should too.
King Cardinal began
with lone frontman, Brennan Mackey and expanded into the new and improved five
piece that we get to meet on this album. The personnel include Jamie Mitchell on pedal steel, Scott Roush on
drums, Texanna Dennie joining Mackey on vocals, and Kramer Kelling as bassist. Together the group creates a humble and upbeat
tone. I would use the word “earthy” to describe the sound, but that is a little
overused in this playing field.
To start off, let’s
look at the first track, Abraham. The song starts off with a
delicate arpeggiated chord sequence that quickly leads to Mackey’s deep rumble.
The vocal performance on this piece is hard to explain; each element builds and
builds to create a simple, yet lush sound scape that tells a curious story.
When we get to the chorus, that is exactly what we are met with- a flowy chorus
of friendly voices.
But wait! What is
this? A sudden change of tempo and style will leave you checking the track for
an unexpected shuffle. Instantly, Mackey’s vocals turn into an optimistic growl
and the whole dynamic of the instrumentation changes. Banjo, lap steel, and
thumping bass brighten up the place, and let’s not forget that rockin’
drumbeat. This abrupt change adds excitement that pumps you up for the rest of
the EP.
The next song on the album is Gasoline,
which like its predecessor starts off with gentle chords and soothing vocals.
The shift in this number is aloof and tactful, bringing in a very groovy beat
that proves just how talented Mr. Roush really is. Layered guitars and lap
steel swim in the depth created by the musicians. Despite the lyrics: “If you want fire, I’ve got the gasoline”,
the song itself if very cool and refreshing.
Into
The Wind is our next target. Right off the bat, the song proves itself bubbly,
but comes to a calm not yet seen. Almost ballad like, Into The Wind is soothing
and thoughtful, the kind of song you would listen to on a bad day, you know.
Soulful vocals fit nicely over well-placed lap steel, leading up to a brilliant
solo by Mitchell. This song is bright and heartfelt, surly to be a sensational
trip for the listener.
The follow up is One,
a work that begins with a sound that nicely contrasts the first set of the
album. Almost dark in in presence with a very slight amount of tasteful dissonance,
One is a duet between Mackey and the lovely
Texanna Dennie. Although not as upbeat as the songs we’ve gone over this far, this
one is still sweet and meaningful. I found the guitar work all around very put
together here. Each piece has its place and compliments its counterparts.
Release
Me begins with a quaint bit of guitar that has a tinny twang about it. It
isn’t long before we find a bit of violin intertwining around the simple guitar
work. Mackey’s deep voice then takes the spotlight to paint a serene scene of
our senses. A quick pause enters us to the rhythm section. Four on the floor
and a subtle amount of bass fill out the rest of our aural panorama that grows
and grows, building up to a powerful climax. This, so to speak, is our release from the song. We might also
say that it is our release point of the album as we know it.
It then seems that
we are launched into something that would be described by Rod Sterling at the beginning
of an episode of The Twilight Zone.
We step into another dimension known as Standing Down. We start off on this
new plane confronted by what sounds like something reminiscent of the great
psychedelic sound experiments of the 60’s. Eventually in this celestial
wasteland, we find a voice and an accompanying song structure, which is a
generous surprise to the already divine music at hand. To put it point blank,
this is what “Vibes” sound like. Truly beautiful. An absolutely astonishing way
to flow out of a terrific album.
In the end, Once A Giant lives up to its title. We
are given a huge and fulfilling sound that is humble and down to earth. Even if
the folk scene isn’t yours, this album is definitely worth a listen and then
some.
King Cardinal is currently on tour, so head to https://www.facebook.com/KingCardinalmusic/ to view dates!You can also find Once A Giant online at http://www.kingcardinal.com/music/
-Cheyenne Kline
*Many thanks to the ever patient King Cardinal!
