Let
me clarify some scheduling first. Tomorrow night I am going to see three bands,
one of which is incredibly important to me. To make the schedule work, the
travel review that normally goes up on Saturday will be posted Friday (Dole
Pineapple Plantation!), and Saturday I will post the concert review for frnkIero
andthe cellabration.
That
makes today the perfect time to review cellabration drummer and accomplished
musician Matt Olsson. I will be focusing on his 2012 album Part One: The
Sabotage, partly because it is his most recent work, but also because with
my poor Bandcamp navigation I did not realize there was other music there until
I had listened to The Sabotage six times, so it's just more familiar.
The
album is described as "The fictional story of a young American Spy in Europe during the early years
of the Cold War."
Based
on the cover art, and the use of older instruments (fans of the Decemberists
should enjoy Olsson's work) there was initially a feeling that it was something
even older than Cold War, perhaps more like the Crimea. As the story continues,
crossing Europe with intrigue and danger, there is a sense that
it is emotionally correct.
The
political does not overwhelm the personal. As much as the protagonist refers to
work that others have died for, there is also a family legacy and a passionate,
blinding love for his collaborator.
That
sounds like it can't end well, and with the final track titled "To Avalon
(The Gulags)" that doesn't sound encouraging. It is Part One, so anything
can happen, but also there is still a note of defiance left, and resolution to
do what needs to be done. Before that, with my favorite track "Snakes
(Langley)" there is a note that while not exactly optimism still seems to
have some peace, that there is an overall connectedness, and knowledge and
purpose.
I
love the string work on the album. There are moments where the vocals become
less musical, and more spoken, like parts of "Some Truth (Paris pt. 2)", but I
feel that works well to heighten the dramatic tension. To be fair, the music
works for that too.
I
think Woody Guthrie would like this album.
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