Vetiver retain "Charm"

Vetiver is the project of Andy Cabric, best known as working with and being a member of Devendra Banhart’s band. His fourth album, “The Errant Charm,” continues to expand Vetiver’s sound from soft folk to a grandiose music, which features plenty of keys, guitar effects, layering, and tight drums.

Hearing the jump from his last album “Tight Knit,” this album seems to have taken subtle influence in the electro-pop wave of the last couple of years, yet it still retains much of the classic folk sound Vetiver are known for.

“The Errant Charm” also features many mellow rock tunes to sit and relax to throughout the summer, something that could be said for all of Vetiver’s work. Highlights include the epic leaning intro track, “It’s Beyond Me,” the keyboard and guitar heavy “Can’t You Tell,” and the laid back, warm “Fog Emotion.”

The album noticeably packs its stronger songs at the beginning and begins to fade at the halfway mark. The second half is can be easier to listen to, but does not have the same songwriting strength of its counterpart.

Vetiver is often lumped into the freak-folk subgenre, but Andy Cabric has evolved his sound while still retaining most of what there is to like about his music.

With “The Errant Charm,” the change is noticeable, but not in a way to send away fans of Vetiver’s earlier work. For the most part, the changes work and keep the sound from being stagnant.

By Tony Fowler