Description:
Two years after the highly acclaimed To Find Me Gone, Andy Cabic and Vetiver return with a new album of old songs, all hidden treasures, entitled Thing of the Past. Think of it as Cabic`s fully realized mix tape to the world-- a collection of some of his favorite songs from some of his favorite records-- but presented, sequenced, and in this case performed by Cabic himself, with a little help from his friends far and wide. Featuring core Vetiver members Cabic (vocals/guitar/banjo), Brent Dunn (bass), Sanders Trippe (guitar/vocals), Otto Hauser (drums/keyboards) and Kevin Barker (guitar/banjo/vocals), the album includes contributions from two of Cabic`s heroes, Vashti Bunyan (who duets on "Sleep A Million Years") and Michael Hurley (who does likewise on his own "Blue Driver"). Other players include "Farmer" Dave Scher (keyboard/pedal steel/melodica), Jason Quever (piano/keyboard), Ben Kunin (sarod), Jonathan Wilson (acoustic guitar), Emma Smith (violin), and vocalists Meara O`Reilly and Abigail and Lily Chapin. From good-time rocking on Hawkwind`s "Hurry On Sundown" and Loudon Wainwright III`s "The Swimming Song" to the beautiful triptych of songs that runs from Biff Rose`s "To Baby" through Ian Matthews` "Road To Ronderlin" and Garland Jeffreys` "Lon Chaney," this is a diverse and harmonious collection of songs. With the album so centered around the lasting resonance of the song, the focus inevitably falls upon Cabic`s warm, honey-toned vocals, which are perfectly suited to the material he`s gathered. Rather than obvious plundering from the well-worn rock cannon, these are largely overlooked and forgotten tunes (spanning a period from 1967-1973), dusted off, reverently refashioned, and given the opportunity to sing again. (Gnomonsong)
