For those who have never had the pleasure of listening for hours on end to the smooth abiding lull of a Bob Dylan discography, or the slightly accented yet gentle voice of Paul Simon, self-described "country, indie folk-rock" band The High Plains will likely not reach this audience with their new album Our Devices. It's a combination of perpetuating melodiousness, coupled with thoughtful lyrics and an aching vocal, and it's a blend that makes for an intriguing, rather than easy listening.
It's this aching voice that opens the first song "Clothes," which drips of post-breakup apathy and exhaustion, almost as if the lyric: "come back and get your goddamned clothes" wasn't enough to establish the mood. A guitar strumming and a low woodwind drawing gravitational circles mark the background, almost in representation of the moody consciousness. It's an anchor to succor the audience into the spirit, and it works well throughout the album when it's employed to other songs such as "Water and the Air" and "Cities."
Yet The High Plains are skilled enough that they are still able to throw a couple curveballs at their listener. "The Man You Need" retains this incessancy yet manages to project itself as being more upbeat, with some lovely harmonizing between the pacific tenor and an easy soprano. My favorite track "Drug Songs" contrasts the vocalist's morose character with a rather clever lyric: "All my love songs turn out to be drugs songs...and all my problems got 12-Step solutions." Not just any band could get away with this combination of atmosphere and lyricism without making it sound caustic, or depressing. Yet in this dynamic, The High Plains excel.
Completing the parabola from post-breakup apathy ("Clothes"), to post-breakup improvement ("Blow Over") and back to apathy, the closing song "Nothing New" leaves the audience with an interesting comingling of hope and discouragement: "As long as I've got feeling I'll be feeling alone... and that's enough for me." It's a gently given refrain that nevertheless lingers with listeners long after. And after all, any decent artist knows that one should never leave their audience with too much satisfaction. The High Plains are no mere decent artists.
See the High Plains' CD release show Wednesday night, 9 p.m., at the Bishop. $5 at the door.
Post by Brandon Cook
