Therefore seems determined to go down. The songs poured out of the crevice. This is a much quieter record than its predecessor, Viva Last Blues. A fragile sad beauty that is almost overwhelming in its stark, pared back, solmenity. Whereas their previous Manos offered much to be excited about, Gates' brave meld of pop and sparsity sometimes fell in on itself, the songs unable to sustain her heartfelt visions.
Strand is the woman and vision matured.
Americana' outside the front door, in the head, small clubs and industrial towns, the clank and machination of which sometimes falls uneasily between tracks. Those records tell me that I'm not the only one who feels that way. Thank the stars, he does. There's more than a hint of Type O Negative supremo Pete Steele in the insouciant baritone depths as this caress of a sad song winds like a slow river to the seas of eternal movement.