oRSo - Long Time By
(Perishable)
On or around 1998, both Rex and Red Red Meat ceased to exist; however, all
the members of both bands found the time to collaborate as one unit and
record a great record under the name Loftus. Originally (and inexplicably)
slated to be released on a major label, after hearing the tapes the label
quickly reneged (ever allergic to decent music), and the album
was put out by the band members' label Perishable. Shortly thereafter,
Perishable released the first oRSo record, using many of the same artists, this
time under the direction of Phil Spirito of Rex.
Long Time By is the second oRSo record, again combining Spirito with many of
the members of Red Red Meat and other musicians, and it continues Spirito's
tribute to the dusty backroads. The album sounds like it's the soundtrack to a
road picture covering desolate, rural areas and their unique culture, using
his banjos and acoustic guitars to create an Appalachain folk sound. Spirito
sings of circuses, rodeos, horse racing, and ghost horses, making up
backwoods legends as he goes along in his unapologetically bad voice--perhaps
the only good thing about Spirito's voice is that he is dedicated
to using it despite its shortcomings.
The record has two types of songs: deconstructed folk songs and soundscapes of
weird noises, plunky strings, and smooth synthesizers. The quality of both of
these is somewhat hit and miss.
The purest tones on the album show up on the song "Well," and it is the easiest
song for the ear to grab ahold of, most reminiscent of anything Rex did (i.e.,
vaguely). The song uses just a couple guitars with Julie Liu's viola, some
keyboard tones, and Spirito and Gillian Lisee's male/female vocals, but
the lyrics ("You don't know me all that well") and melody are easy
to get wrapped up into. "Circle R" is also a pleasant sounding song, using
electric guitar and melodica to make a soothing sound for Spirito's story of a
truck driver. "Alex's Apartment" reminds me of one of the better
moments of the Loftus album, as an anthem (this time the album's title) seethes
out of layers of odd noises and disjointed rhythms. However, not all these
songs are highlights, as there's not much to love about "Mama" with its odd,
repetitive plucking sounds.
The soundscapes truly work well only as incidental,
soundtrack music, however they fit that purpose quite well. For
example, "Conference Room" uses lots of synthesizers and other electronic
sounds to a pleasing, slowly swirling effect, and "Spokane" uses a piano and
organ to create carnival music.
Hearing the odd sounds on this album, it is somewhat obvious it was recorded
by Brian Deck (Red Red Meat, Califone, producer of Modest Mouse). Deck's
trademark earthy, odd sound is all over this record, just like
all of the Red Red Meat records, using office chairs, tuning pegs, and
oil cans for percussion more so than a drumset, plucking piano strings outside
the piano, and other strangeness. While the sound this creates is organic and
different, it can be distracting from the tonal and rhythmic qualities of the
pieces and may be why purer songs like "Well" and "Circle R" stand out so much
as being pleasant and good. Of course, such a sound is obviously love/hate.
Regardless, Long Time By has many good points, and the kinks in the sound are
interesting even if not entirely and completely musical.
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