Dirty Three - Whatever You Love You Are
(Touch and Go)
The Dirty Three are essentially folk music revivalists, and like many of
their respected peers in this group, from Bob Dylan to John Fahey to Will
Oldham, their respect and nostalgia for the back porch amateur aesthetic
in musical performance in conjuction with genuine musical skill, poetic
sensitivity and access to recent innovations in musical approach allows
them to transcend the homey music they mimic to create art that is both
timeless and absolutely new. Their newest album, Whatever You Love You
Are, is similar to their others, a collection of melancholy instrumentals
performed by gritty, ragged violin, mostly laidback and cool guitar
playing, and loose, musical drumming. This is likely their warmest and
fullest sounding album to date however, principally due to the increased
use of overdubs and multiple instrumentation. As a result the music seems
more thoughtful, planned, and is often more effective, but the pleasing
illusion of live performance is sacrificed to some extent. If you have
not yet heard the Dirty Three, this album is an excellent place to start,
as it contains some of the most beautiful, soulful music recorded in the
past few years, typical of the Dirty Three, but in a form which is perhaps
more accessible and likely to be enjoyed on the first listening than their
other recordings.
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