i have been drawn to this band’s unique sound ever since i first heard them in 2010. this is their fourth album, and it is at least as good as anything they have done so far. when describing their sound, one often runs across the phrase ‘spaghetti western’, and there is some value in that. many of the songs offer up aural landscapes featuring echo saturated melodies, soaring vocals, and dreamy orchestral flourishes. and all of this is packaged in catchy, well crafted songs. all i can say is you just have to listen to a few songs to get an idea of their sound. my guess is that you will either like them immediately, or you will decide that it’s just not your thing.

ben schneider founded the band in 2010, and he is the main songwriter. hailing originally from lansing, michigan, he now resides in los angeles and works primarily out of whispering pines studio. the studio, originally built in the 70’s by aretha franklin’s bandleader, provided some of the inspiration for the theme of this album.

schneider and his band imagined all the country and soul artists who might have played there, and created a cast of fictional characters and their stories. it is presented as a concept album, and the liner notes ask you to listen to it sequentially and all the way through in one sitting. there are small transitional segments narrated by an emcee, which gives it the feel of a seventies tv music show. schneider says he wanted it to ‘feel like a long lost classic you missed somehow – nostalgic and familiar in a way, but you can’t quite put your finger on it’. and i think that seems about right.

here are a few tracks to whet your appetite: