CAVE SINGERS ‘INVITATION SONGS’ MATADOR

Don’t expect a history lesson with Invitation Songs, as the American folk influences here are raw and muddled. However, do expect to be pleased. This album inspires euphoria, and it’s a pleasure to listen to—specifically, stand out tracks “Helen” and “Oh Christine.” Lyrics like “In my bedroom I seek a foreign night/Helen your eyes are frozen in my brain/Helen you are a gone world where I remain” find a high-pitched fervor with Pete Quirk’s Jeff Tweedy-style vocals. (The oscillating rhythm of “Helen” also has the effect of a very sexy wave machine—I don’t know whether to make out or take a nap.) Tracks “New Monuments” and “Dancing on Our Graves” develop the darker Southern gothic elements of Invitation Songs, and make me question the band’s own assertion that they never listened to much folk music. After hearing these poignantly layered, morose spirituals, I wouldn’t be surprised if these boys from the Pacific Northwest have more than a few Folkways Records compilations in their collections.

Tags: album review, cave singers, mp3