Tall Timbers - Tall Timbers II

Tall Timbers
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Tall Timbers II
self-released; 2022

By Jay Freeman

Tall Timbers II is the second record from the New Orleans, Louisiana/Richmond, Virginia trio, Tall Timbers. The record was written over the course of a year and then recorded mostly in one day at a cabin along the James River in Virginia. The band’s self-titled debut Tall Timbers was reviewed on Pitch Perfect. And with their second album Tall Timbers II, the trio brings to listeners their unique blend of indie folk and singer/songwriter influences, along with live field recordings, hushed instrumentation and soft vocals - in the world of artists like Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, Matt Pond PA and Sufjan Stevens. I think you’ll find Tall Timbers’ music to be lush, full of warm sounds and vibes. 

The opening track “Ghost Bird” is a short tune (in fact most of the band’s songs are pretty short). Here, vocals are full and inviting, accompanied by an acoustic guitar, an ethereal sounding piano and droning organ in the background. “Ponderosa” has a sad western movie mystique to it, but it also reminded me of the movie Into the Wild. “Kingmaker II” has the band playing an electric guitar, very softly and an even softer played bass. The vocal harmonies are simply gorgeous on this track. “Moderation” engulfs the ears with echoing vocals singing - “I don’t think I’ll ever get by” with some added trippy key/synth effects - in just under a minute. “Daisy” feels like a love song, or a love letter written to a special someone by the same name. This tune sounds like it was hardly played or sung - the band gets super chill, super quiet here. Beautiful number for sure. “North Treeline” has got a cool mix of organ and piano, acoustic and a rugged, electric guitar sound. The rhythm has a bounce to it as well - one of the band’s faster played songs, you could say.

“Medication” has a different feel to it. It’s more… old school in some ways, creepy, but in a good way? Sad and melancholic all in one, and the quiet, rolling steam in the background adds mystery here. In my view, I think it’s sounds more like something off of a soundtrack album, like some murder mystery film or Twin Peaks episode. Anyway, I liked this track a lot and it shows a different side to the band. “Paper Rivers” features a faster rhythm on the acoustic and more organ presence. It kind of sounds like there’s almost two organ/keyboards playing, like one sounds more “flute-ish” while another one has a lower tone to it. Overall, this track sounded happy to me.  The next tune “Meditation” also features the band having a different sound and style. I would say they have a more ambient/soundscape thing going on here.

​“We’re gonna go to outer space” declares a little persons’ voice in this instrument only song. The band’s last track “Wax and Wane” is very stripped down - only a vocal and acoustic to start and then, more vocal harmonies on the chorus part of the song. Another gently played, softly sung tune, well, until the band brings in a distorted guitar and a droning keyboard sound towards the end. 

Overall, it you’re looking for something soft, chilled out and similar to the other artists mentioned earlier, Tall Timbers has got you covered.

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