While Jamie is off gallivanting and carousing on a random island (located off the coast of a country that, itself is an island) Dakin blogs on tirelessly from another island (which is, by Dakin’s estimation, much more island like than Jamie’s).
Will Stratton
What the Night Said
Amazing, really, that, within the past six months, Duck & Cover has been cued in to the talents of two amazingly gifted nineteen year old singer songwriters. (Makes us feel a little, well, not dirty – not like that NAMBLAesque Harry Potter with the horse -- and not quite icky, but definitely old.) The first, being, of course, Zac Condon of Beirut (and, apologies for the fact that the promised review of Lon Gisland e.p. never materialized; we’ll get to it eventually), and now the first bit of 2007 brings us Will Stratton and his remarkable debut What the Night Said.
WtNS is a beautiful record that has, thus far, garnered comparisons to Sufjan Stevens and Iron & Wine; comparisons, which, while I can see the similarity, seem to sell Stratton a little short. As human beings, we like to label and compare so that we have a frame of reference, but let’s just let Will Stratton be Will Stratton. (Although, “Night Will Come” seems to lean towards some Harmacy era Sebadoh, but that may just be me.)
This record is remarkably cozy and familiar, and appropriate for any use that you may apply to it. For instance, it has passed the “play it loud while cooking dinner” test, as well as the “play it softly as background” test and the all important “Listen, really listen on Headphones” test. Not only has each test been passed with flying colors, but each listen has resulted in at least two consecutive trips through the record. For those that may not be picking up on the subtext, that means that this record is very good.
Opener “Katydid” immediately catches you and pulls you into the record, and you float on through a sea of lost loves and broken relationships, the music wrapping itself around you like a favorite jacket (or perhaps a well loved quilt). “Sonnet” picks up the tempo a bit, complete with a bouncy arrangement and hand claps. (We do love hand claps around here.) The record settles back down with “Oh Quiet Night”, and continues quietly on with beautiful lyrics about headlights sweeping bedroom walls, crippled skies, and empty kisses. In short, the songs are astonishingly beautiful, accomplished, and lyrical, and almost guaranteed to make their way on to the “Best of 2007” list of anyone who hears this record.
From what I can tell, there are not that many venues through which one may purchase WtNS, aside from iTunes, but when Jamie gets back from afore mentioned gallivanting and cavorting, we’ll see to it that we have a purchase link loaded, as well as a song preview so that you can hear for yourself just how hopelessly amazing and breathlessly beautiful and just stunning this record is. (Also, if you’re in the know, you may say “hey, why no mention of Sufjan’s oboe playing on this record? Don’t you know??” Well, yes, we do, but let’s let Will have his moment in the spotlight, shall we?)
Will Stratton
What the Night Said
Stunning Models on Display
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