Labels: Owsla
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Uncommonly gorgeous packaging for this little 6 track cd by Homemade Knives, who can number
amongst their ranks Mr. Ryan McLennan (ex-Wilderness Medicine, President of Owsla Records).
Armed with that bit of information, you may expect some kind of emotional emo going on
here, but its not the case. Homemade Knives are in the ballpark more of something like Ida,
Lullaby for the Working Class or Very Secretary but with more of a traditional American feel to the whole sound.
Throughout this cd, Homemade Knives please me on this rather pretty misty autumn morning. Each song is well put together – guitars gently play, other instruments enter the mix from time to time, and it maintains the essential warm feeling in music like this. I am perhaps not as taken by the main vocals in this band as I am by others, they do tend to dominate proceedings a touch more than I am partial to, but that is a pretty weak criticism if all is said and done. Perhaps my favourite song on this cd is “Virginia”, the first song which opens up with lovely, twinkly guitars and other warm instrumentation. The male vocals are sung very strongly and backed up with female vox in places – working well.
So yes, a very good cd that those who like softer music would do well to check out.