After a slow, sci-fi swooshing at the beginning of "Dust Windows", Kingsley Flood's debut CD, the listener is treated to 11 tracks of down home, rockin', sweet & savory Americana.
After the swoosh, a fiddle intro whines and winds around a bass line to tug you by the ear into the first song. As soon as the verse of "Back in the Back" begins with a boy on a roof as "the waters are rising" (New Orleans?) then just as quickly jumps "half a world away" to a boy who "kills to be saved".
It's easy pay attention to the symbolism-laden lyrics whether you can figure out all the clues. Songwriter Naseem Khuri sings with care for every word in a clear, slightly nasal rasp that suggests other intelligent writers like Jeff Tweedy or David Lowery.
Additionally, almost every chorus hangs on a big, catchy hook that makes it easy to sing along on second listen -- if not before the song is over. We were singing "Cathedral Walls" while walking home the other night.
More after the jump, including two mp3's.
Unlike most albums lately, the dynamic mix of mood and tempo makes for compelling listen from beginning to end. The band drives the music around in a rootsy chassis, but the vigorous roar is coming from a rock engine.
There's also plenty of hot guitar from the twangy goodness of "Devil's Arms" and "Roll of the Dice" (which gives a nod to Beacon Hill). On the bouncy "Cul de Sac", mandolin dances around the song particularly when it's punctuating the each line of the first verse.
While it's not surprising to hear tasteful fiddle playing throughout, we were startle to hear so much trumpet on various tracks such as the loping rag of "Stoop Cats" or the frenetic end of "A Little Too Old."
All in all, it's a delightfully raucous 40-plus minute ride on rootsy wheels.
If you didn't catch Kingsley Flood when they recently headlined a night of the New England Americana Festival, they're playing the Middle East (Upstairs) on Saturday, April 3rd.
MP3 -- "Cul de Sac"
MP3 -- "Cathedral Walls"
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