Pitch Perfect
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

The late ancient - songs from the wigwam

12/31/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Late Ancients

Songs From The Wigwam
self-released; 2013

3.8 out of 5

By Ethan Skeleton
The last three years have been especially busy for The Late Ancients. Singer and lead guitarist, Pete Beck, has spent his time and spent it well, crafting songs that send the listener to a different time and place. Songs From the Wigwam sounds as if you took a step back 30 years, but there was new polish and more concentrated exploration. At the heart, it's a strange cornucopia of intellectualism and drugs made to order with wonderful yet reserved production. The snare drum hits with a sweet thickness while the organ work is nothing less than superb. Brittany Staub’s clear voice resonates effortlessly in harmonic union with Beck and Mark Brown. It's a joy to hear this group's wide influence exemplified in moments that liken the riff intentions of Jimi Hendrix and the width of space that only Pink Floyd could create.

Dave Master's tom work on "Enter The Wigwam" opens the album, moving with unique anticipation much like The Yeah Yeah Yeah's track "Maps.” If that's any indication, this song is already on the right path. Sly and sexy, Staub's voice joins the guitars and the verse builds toward dancing cymbals. Then the groove relaxes, sitting beneath the gang vocal "All hail the Wigwam,” a statement of this album's mantra, punctuated by a quirky hit that further grounds the message in the listener's memory. Funk guitar and organ send "Flash" on a fun ride that lasts up until the backyard chugger that is "Cross of Lorraine." The tempo shifts back in the favor of rock n' roll and we hear this group really flesh out on "Spirit Drive" before "Dovetail" returns the soundscape to familiar places, bringing back the psychedelia of the 70s with pure intention and excellent musicianship. 

"On The Old Brandywine" tells a puddled honky-tonk tale about sweet love gone sour. The lyric, "You wasted nothing but your time," sums it up pretty well. And just when you think you have them all figured out, The Late Ancients bring in the horns. A whole new mood is introduced on "Whiskey Jim" and it's as close as we get to pop on the whole album. But before any more sparkling, the flow steps back and leans on the shoulders of blues. The album closes like it began, with a reprise of the somewhat haunting chant "All hail the Wigwam” on “Exit the Wigwam." Strange abducting sounds are weaved throughout the album to act as transition effects. This tactic is used most profoundly toward the end creating continuity worthy of praise.
official website
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by pitchperfect158
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
© Pitch Perfect 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Pitch Perfect
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact