New Music Tuesday: Billy Talbot Band, Dakota
Billy Talbot is the bass player for Crazy Horse. That’s not how I know of him, though. Despite the fact that I’m a bass player, I don’t really pay much attention to bass players. I pay attention to songs, and these caught my ear this week.
I’ll confess that I did recognize the name because my band mate, Robbie Thayer recorded an album at his studio a number of years back and still talks fondly of the experience.
Dakota is the third full length release by the Billy Talbot Band, and the second collaborative release with Ryan Holzer who sings lead on half of the tracks. What grabs you right away is the open production of this record. The drums are back there in the corner of your room, and there is a nice, wide stereo image—especially with the strings. This really enhances the etherial, lazy vibe of the whole record.
I have to think the sparse soundscape of Dakota is intended to mimic the landscape of its southern namesake, but it’s more likely the natural byproduct of living there.
Holzer’s vocal inflections and phrasing on songs like “No Regrets” and “Stick” are reminiscent of Pedro the Lion and Built to Spill at times. It pairs well with Talbot’s more mature, Randy Neuman sounding voice. Both singers are extremely proficient, and they both harmonize well with their neighbor, Liza Blue who backs them up on the record. The sparse performances really showcase this.
And sparse performances are the magic of Dakota. These ploddingly slow, wide open songs have such a great sound. All the nuances of the players, their instruments and the equipment in the room is audible. This is music the way love to play it myself, and they did it live in a week’s time.
This record is going to make for some delightful fall evenings this year. Neil Young and turn of the century emo fans alike will both find something to dig here.
Now to track down some more of this elusive Ryan Holzer, character…