EL CORTEZ RECORDS
For a band formed in 1994, Richmond Fontaine
are still in a position of virtual obscurity - a position though, that looks likely to
change with the release of this their sixth album, Post To Wire. A sprawling
album of alt-country pop songs, atmospheric widescreen guitar sonics
and eccentric spoken word snapshots from Americana.
The Longer You Wait is an opener of looped drums, pedal steel
guitar slides and jittery new-wave rhythms - its the Strokes meets Wilco
with added Chemical Brothers big-beat nuances. Barely Losing, is more
in the traditional country vein though, sweet melodic vocals with
that heartbroken yearning quality of a Jeff Tweedy or Ryan Adams. Willy Vlautins
vocals have the same lived-in quality that conveys his lyrics of heartbreak,
loss, redemption and hope.
Post To Wire is an instantly catchy slice of alt-country/pop
that hits you from the very first instant you hear it. The sweet male/female
vocal interplay evokes the classic spirit of Gram Parsons and Emmylou
Harris and this is two minutes of glorious grin-inducing music thats
deserving of widespread attention.
On, Polaroid, piano chords and pedal steel guitar give things
a much more traditional country feel. The vocals convey a heartbreaking
sense of melancoly that seeps from every word, lyrics like not everyone
lives their life alone/not everyone gives up/or is beaten or robbed or
always stoned/not everyone, give a real sense of strange hope in a messed up
world.
Allison Johnson, has a Tom Waits feel to it. Sombre cello,
skeletal piano playing and dark storytelling come together in a downbeat
song of country blues intent.
Williamette, though is a song more epic in scope. Starting
with sparse blues guitar playing and subtle pedal steel work, things slowly
build to levels of climactic intensity. The lyrics have the same dark
tone of work by Nick Cave or Tom Waits, stories of small town incidents
where storytelling shines through with the same level of thought
given to the melodies and harmonies.
Post To Wire, is the latest in a long line of extremely impressive
alt-country albums. Along with albums like Wilcos Summerteeth,
Being There and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Ryan Adams Heartbreaker, Gold and
Love Is Hell or albums by The Handsome Family, Emmylou Harris and The Walkabouts.
Post To Wire is an album than demands to be heard, superb songs that
combine great storytelling with great songwriting.
Richmond Fontaine is a state of mind more
than anything else. It takes root in the fertile imagination
of songwriter Willy Vlautin. With the help of his band mates
the vision finds its way into songs. And over nine years and
six albums, Willy and the Richmond Fontaine boys have laid
down a healthy dose of top-notch songs.
Formed in 1994 at the Portland Meadows horse race track by
Vlautin and bassist Dave Harding, the two took their mutual
love of the music of Husker Du, Willie Nelson, X, The Blasters
and The Replacements and began playing music together. They
named the band after a down and out American expatriate Harding
had met while hitchhiking through Mexico.
With the addition of Paul Brainard on pedal steel guitar and
Sean Oldham on drums, Richmond Fontaine recorded three records
for Cavity Search Records.
Safety, Miles From and Lost Son established the band as a
top-notch recording unit with critical praise enough to fill
a Buick. Writers and fans raved about the bands powerful blend
of rock, country, punk and folk music. Equally admired were
the strong story-based songs of singer Willy Vlautin, which
were often compared to the stark short stories of writers
such as Raymond Carver and Larry Brown.
During these years the band formed a serious following throughout
the country based upon their high-energy, fiery live shows.
2001 saw the release of Whiskey, Painkillers And Speed, a
limited edition live album.
In 2002, the band formed their own record label, El Cortez
Records, and released Winnemucca, a subtler, more acoustic-based
record than the bands previous releases. Winnemucca broadened
the bands audience, garnering glowing reviews in the US and
European press.
In 2003 the band teamed up with producer JD Foster at Jackpot!
Studios in Portland to record two new albums. The first of
these, Post To Wire, will be released on El Cortez records
in May of 2004. Post To Wire finds the band firing on all
cylinders, creating a rich tapestry of rock delight. The band
will once again hit the road in support of the record, aided
by the addition of new guitarist Dan Eccles.
Dave Harding - Bass/Acoustic & Electric Guitars/Vocals
Sean Oldham - Drums/Percussion/Vibes/Vocals
Paul Brainard - Pedal Steel/Piano/Vibes/Acoustic Guitar/Vocals
Willy Vlautin - Vocals/Acoustic & Electric Guitars
SAFETY (1996 - Cavity Search)
Dayton, Oh
Harolds Club
Settle
Safety
Riverhouse
White Line Fever
Novocaine
Whirlpool
1968
Kid Steps Out Into The Road
Wagonwheel Motel
Watsonville Waltz
MILES FROM (1997 - Cavity Search)
Trembling Leaves
Give Me Time
Miles From
Evergreen Power Line
Mcdermitt
Grandview
Collapse
Calm
Blinding Sight
White Out
Under Flourescent Lights
Concussion
LOST SON (1999 - Cavity Search)
Savior Of Time
Ft Lewis
Cascade
Mule
Contrails
Fifteen Year Old Kid In Nogales Mexico
Pinkerton
A Girl In A House In Felony Flats
Muddy Conscience
Four Hours Out
Hope & Repair
WHISKEY, PAINKILLERS AND SPEED (2000 - Cavity Search)
WINNEMUCCA (2002 - El Cortez Records)
Winners Casino
Out Of State
Northline
Santiam
Twyla
Pattys Retreat
Glisan Street
Somewhere Near
5 Degrees Below Zero
Western Skyline
POST TO WIRE (2004 - El Cortez Records)
The Longer You Wait
Barely Losing
Montgomery Park
(Walters On The Lam)
Through
(Postcard From California)
Two Broken Hearts
Hallway
(Postcard Written With A Broken Hand)
Post To Wire
Polaroid
Always On The Ride
(Postcard Postmarked Pheonix AZ)
Allison Johnson
Willamette
Valediction
LINKS
Richmond Fontaine -
SIMILAR BANDS TO CHECK OUT
Wilco
Ryan Adams
Catapult
Spoon
Flaming Lips
|
