The Does / Breathe Stone

[H/E012] Available from Hand/Eye, P.O. Box 13, Glenville PA 17329-0131, USA.

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THE dark Appalachian sounds of The Spectral Light & Moonshine Firefly Snakeoil Jamboree, Mourning Cloak and Stone Breath are already well-loved by those fortunate enough to have enjoyed Timothy Renner's prolific output over the last few years. The multi-talented Renner also runs his own label(s) and has released material by fine musicians like Bob Buckingham and Terry 'Earl' Taylor, as well as tribute to The Incredible String Band and various compilations. His most recent appearance comes in the shape of Breathe Stone, included here as co-conspirators on a six-track double-EP alongside Newfoundland band The Does.

Comprised of Carol Anne Cat (vocals), Neddal Ayad (guitars, keyboards) and Jim (drums), the Canadians kick things off for us with 'Four AM'. The tapping keyboard prelude becomes completely lost amid a rough-edged guitar and truly lawless drumbeat, both of which maintain a strange barrage of sound through which the bored, listless and monotone utterances transcend the sandy-eyed twilight zone between the conscious and the unconscious. Fueled, no doubt, by copious amounts of strong coffee. 'Five Over Three' sounds like a Punk band warming up in a garage, but then evolves into a vocal mixture caught somewhere between Siouxsie Sue of The Banshees and Neither Neither World's Wendy Van Dusen: 'Come over, because I can't sleep'. At this point the stabbing keyboard almost descends into a discordant Ska rhythm whilst the slide guitar, meanwhile, sounds like it is being wielded by a crazed Hawaiian. The final offering from The Does, 'Sleep Deprivation Blues', is the best of the three. Distortion and feedback squeal like pork siblings as Carol's whispered lyrics are barely heard. Again, I'm reminded of some of the darker Punk and British Oi! music from the early-80s, albeit performed at a much slower tempo and with a more feminine edge.

Next up, Breathe Stone and the much-acclaimed Timothy The Revelator. The term 'Rara Avis' appears in Caspar Gutman's 'The Maltese Falcon' and even refers to a Costa Rican rainforest, although the phrase translates more literally into 'rare bird'. Alicia's quietly emotional vocals melt into the constant tapping of the light tambourine and Renner's repetitively minimalist and hypnotic guitar reminds me of Psychic TV's 'Very Friendly'. It's a very beautiful track and has quite a relaxing effect on the listener, although towards the end the song enters a semi-psychedelic phase before everything slows down intensely and grinds to a halt. Less than two minutes in length, 'Crow Omens' immediately bursts into one of Renner's acoustic banjo moments as a swirling electric guitar casts sonic hoops around Sarada's lilting voice. It's the classic SL&MFSJ combination and, God knows, I've missed this stuff. The final track is 'Maria Walks Amid The Thorn'. This one is sung by Renner himself and the slightly detuned guitar effect makes it far harsher than it's predecessors. As sharp and barren as the non-productive rosebush of which it tells, the song is best described as a dirge and the claustrophobic atmosphere is only slightly lessened by the tinkering wind-chimes that bring this CD to an end.

Most split-recordings offer just two musical experiences, but this one is so diverse and unusual that it's hard to believe that only two groups are involved. It's both beautiful and bleak, but that's what makes this CD so interesting.