All These Slippery Things

Local, SF based indie/folk band that really highlights instrumentation – many of these songs have long solo interludes between verses, and about 1/3 of the tracks are exposed duets and completely instrumental. They have an interesting mix of typical folk instruments (fiddle, upright bass, harmonica) and more classically rooted styles/instruments (french horn, solo violin, cello). The vocals are very reminiscent of Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes, with a very small range of notes and a kind of gasping/raw delivery. They work well here over the lush, deep instrumental sound that tends to be kind of minor or wistful. They’ve opened for Sam Amidon – very similar sound. Stand-out tracks are 3, 6, 11. FCCs: 5, 7

1. (0:54) Short interlude with piano and guitar, leads straight into next song
2. (4:46) Laid back, waltzing tempo, tinkling piano and acoustic guitars, soothing brass, very pleasant, Conor Oberst-esque vocals, last minute is a bunch of sung “do-doo”s, ends abruptly
3. (9:02)* More minor, up tempo, layered strings, nice gravely bass and banjo add urgency, long instrumental interludes between verses with harmonica solos, last minute+ builds, ends abruptly
4. (1:48) Exposed upright bass/cello/violin round
5. (5:42) FCC (“shit”) Plucked violin/muted trumpet/banjo opening, up tempo, chorus/many voiced vocals, celebratory, deep sound. Too bad about FCC ☹
6. (3:05)*** Kind of droning/one note vocals very reminiscent of Bright Eyes, jazz piano, upbeat, jangly, ends abruptly
7. (2:12) FCC Keeps similar sound from 6, handclapping, strong percussion and half-shouted chorus
8. (2:33) Minor waltz, builds with lots of cymbal crashes, droning vocal rounds finish out the last minute and fade out
9. (6:32) Up beat tempo, minor, most blues-y track, solo fiddle, drops off for harmonica duet 3 min in then builds up, cool trumpet doodles beneath vocals, fades out
10. (1:35) Sad piano solo, slow, long rests
11. (3:35)** Acoustic guitar and piano, mid-tempo, unrequited love song, raw vocals, solid
12. (8:06) Epic french horn solo opens, mid tempo, lilting vocals, sweeping, building trumpet and acoustic guitar, last minute instrumental
13. (5:06) Shuffle beat, multi-voiced vocals, celebratory, up beat, big, layered sound, drops off after 3 min for melancholy violin solo