waft - daylight moon

WAFT

Daylight Moon
self-released; 2014

3.9 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

Sometimes a band comes around that embraces their unabashed quirks. When this happens we have the makings of a cult hit, a band that represents all those beautiful weirdoes out there that don’t associate with the status quo. Hell, maybe these folks even have a taste for hokey folk rock romps. One can only hope. In Waft’s case, that’s just the way they like it. Daylight Moon is full of retrograde oddities like down home country and garage rock mixed with the humor of The Presidents of the United States. 

It’s a hoedown one minute and a laugh fest the next. Redneck anyone? This album might just have a place for you. With songs like “Dead Skunk” you just have to tip your cap. “Stinking to high heaven…” isn’t the most common of lyrical tags, but they get away with it and in flying colors. The musicianship is right on the money so it’s safe to say that they might be loose with their songwriting, but it’s all business when the red light goes on. 

We have a perfect kick off track in “Move to the Country,” showing off Waft’s southern style of rock bounce. The tempo is highly danceable and that banjo aims to please. The vocals are in trademark contrast of borderline monotone and stretched tenor harmony. It’s all so hick and all so delightful at the same time. “Free Will and Testament” is a little much in that regard, taking on an old man like quality as if his singing was a chore that the pipes just didn’t agree with. “All the While” is very 2/4 bop with an irresistible chorus that carries the consistent sense of goofball jam we’ve grown to love at this point. 

I could see Waft refining their sound a little and introducing more contemporary elements, but I don’t think it will or should happen necessarily. To me, they’ve reserved a spot on the bill with groups such as Wilco and the like. Where they might swing and miss on commercial appeal, they make up for in unique attraction going back to the prior cult reference. Take it or leave it, Waft will get in your head one way or another. Next time you’re cruising down the road, “Dead Skunk” just might come to mind. You’ve been warned.

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