Charlie
and the Foxtrots – The Evergreen EP (Independent)
Charlie and the Foxtrots are a young six-piece band,
originally conceived in a small Georgia town, and now relocated to Nashville,
Tennessee. Interestingly, their musical preferences err towards folk-rock and
acoustic pop rather that the corporate polished country that their new
home-town specializes in, and their six-song EP places them in a much-loved
tradition that begins with artists like Crosby, Stills and Nash, but is most
readily identified with contemporary artists such as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes and
the Mumfords.
With six musicians playing a dozen instruments, it’s
no surprise that there’s a complexity to their sound that is both rewarding and
pleasing. The production is clean and wholly sympathetic, and the result is a
collection that’s fresh and bright sounding, and emphasizes their talent for
ambitious, accessible pop writing, while effortlessly avoiding the clichés of
the form.
All six tracks are worth getting to know, and as an
introduction to the band, they work beautifully. Launch track “Mademoiselle” is
a doozy and vocalist Chas Wilson has a perfect voice for the song; rootsy yet
urbane, with the slightest hint of fragility. “Leaving
It Behind” is an upbeat floor-filler, and must surely be a live
favourite, and “Thumping” adds a little twang to their sound. Best of all is “Meeting the Stone”, without sacrificing an iota of
accessibility, it manages epic, progressive folk-rock in a concise 2:51.
Phil S.
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