One of the greatest perks of my job is getting a jump on amazing new music before the rest of the world. The latest disc to cross my desk and touch my heart is “The Bottom of the Lake” by Tinpan Orange.
I’d never heard of the band, but I was instantly drawn in by the whimsical cover art and the promise of mandolins and ukuleles. I’m always a sucker for instrumentation that’s a little left of centre.
This is one CD that didn’t just meet my expectations; it exceeded them. This is music that feels familiar, yet completely different from anything that inhabits radio. The sound is lush; not from studio wizardry but from the rich textured layering of instruments and vocals. For a three-piece, Tinpan Orange have one hell of a sound. Everything is perfectly measured: delicate, lilting, and warm.
Emily Lubitz is a real find, a siren with a voice so husky and inviting. Her brother Jesse’s songs didn’t gel with me as easily. I’m reminded of the way I felt when listening to george years ago, so enamoured with Katie Noonan that I struggled to appreciate Tyrone’s tracks. As with Tyrone Noonan, the songs with Jesse Lubitz up front aren’t bad. They just don’t thrill me in quite the same way.
That aside, it’s really hard to find fault with this album. It’s an exciting release, with elements of folk, jazz, and even a little flamenco. Like a patchwork quilt, no two pieces are quite the same, yet it all comes together as something magical and very special.
The Bottom of the Lake will hit record stores on August 17.
Image used with permission from Two Fish