It’s a sad scene when you have a native of the Appalachian region wondering what the hell happened to all the great folk/folk rock acts out there. Sure, we’ve got our Bowerbirds (which yes, are amazing) but they appear to be spinning in different directions now a days. And as I look around the area to see which acts will step up to fill in these shoes, there appears to be a very sorry lot available. Ink Music’s Nowhere Train has finally provided an answer to this surprising longing with their latest album, “Station“, a triumphant of not only the folk/folk rock scene but also an incredibly gifted reminder of the benefits of a truly independent, global music society.
For one, the album has a momentum and flow which appears easy yet by no means is an easy achievement. From their opening track, “Ashes” with the obvious train like rhythm exemplified beautifully by the light snare gliding of the percussion to the melancholy bluegrass soaked with an almost drunken beauty to the vocals witnessed in “Are You There“, Station truly does take the listener on a metaphorical journey through such universal themes as mortality, love, and regret all with a flow which never leaves a listener bored. And while the album plays well as a complete whole, I do not meant to downplay the parts which make this amazing sum. A personal favorite would have to be “Outrageous”, with an unapologetic yet faded glory tone, “Outrageous” features your nonchalant yet seemingly sarcastic lyrics backed by a sound which is almost classic Roma meets Folk-Rock. “Annabelle” incorporates a haunting bluegrass melody while keeping a sincere and honest voice within each verse and chorus. Frankly, Nowhere Train’s “Station” is something along the lines of what I was hoping the Figurines could achieve to no avail, all of which makes me that much more excited to witness the series of music videos which, undoubtedly, will be released over the coming weeks (already a live session video for “Ashes” is available at the top of the article).
Thoughts, comments, and concerns? I am wildly impressed by Nowhere Trains ability to take a genre which is often misused and incorporate it with respectful nods to classics of wildly different genres (think the Velvet Underground when listening to “With A Lot Of Love” and tell me I’m wrong). Station is an album which elegantly molds contemporary tools provided by technological advances with an honesty played out in both playful yet reflective folk meets alternative society. Welcome, my friends, to globalism. It’s good to finally be here and yes, thank you Nowhere Train, for showing us what it might sound like.
- Cliff
