The Pelican’s Perch

…Well, maybe my favorite album of the moment, but an album of this caliber deserved a deceiving title to get you interested immediately.  As I usually do with my stack of promos, I pick one and put it in start to finish.  No matter how bad it is.  I figure even on the bad ones there’s bound to be a good song hidden somewhere in the mix.  This recent way of thinking is exactly why albums such as Lost in the Tree’s Time Taunts Me catch me so offguard. 

Comprised of a mere seven songs and ending barely after the half hour mark, the album leaves a lot to be desired.  But in this case that’s a good thing.  Ari Picker, the man behind Lost in the Trees, has completely blown me away with this new album.  His orchestrations, dare I say it, put Andrew Bird’s to shame at times, like in the stellar opener “Lost in the Snow”.  Andrew Bird obviously doesn’t try to make full orchestra rock, so I shouldn’t compare his orchestration to Ari’s, but I honestly don’t know anyone out there right now making such full orchestral sounds in their music that isn’t a modern classical composer such as Max Richter or Yann Tiersen.  Eluvium is the only one that comes to mind, but his songs are more minimalistic orchestral drones. 

The one instrumental track, “For Elizabeth and John”, is worthy of placement in any Wes Andersen movie rivaling most songs Mark Mothersbaugh has produced.  I did go look up whether Ari had done any soundtracks yet, since these songs suggested he was bound to, and he’s working on the score now to Nathaniel Carota’s A Slow Dissolve.  I’ve never heard of the movie, but you can bet I’ll be checking it out now that Ari’s involved with the soundtrack.

The rest of the album, all five songs of it, is equally well orchestrated and after listening to it all morning on repeat, I can’t really see myself wanting to listen to too much else the rest of the week.  You always hope to find an album like this every summer, at least I do, and I could have never guessed I’d find one this early in the summer.  Either way, I can’t imagine my excessive praise and admiration of this album so far in this post didn’t at least peak your curiosity, and since most of you have enjoyed the same albums I do, I’m hoping the case is the same today. 

RIYL: Detektivbyran if they went full orchestra and sang or Yann Tiersen’s Goodbye Lenin style of orchetration.

Lost in the Trees
Time Taunts Me

1. Lost in the Snow [mp3]

2. Time Taunts Me
3. Tall Trees [mp3]

4. I’ve Always Loved the Fall
5. If You’re Afraid of the Dark [mp3]

6. For Elizabeth and John
7. Time. It Will Not Erase Me

[youtube Iw2gmHuOhfg] 

Official Site / Myspace / Buy Time Taunts Me