Looking slightly scarily like a cross between Charlie Manson and former Little Feat lead singer Lowell George, Iron and Wine frontman Sam Bean isn' the most communicative of frontmen.
Luckily his music does the talking for him - essentially the six-piece band are an alt country act and are deeply in thrall to the sounds of seventies Californina - Crosby, Stills and Nash fans would feel utterly familiar with there ouevre. But ther
e's more to it than that: They find room in their songs for extended improvisation - at times the set feels more like a jazz concert as the musicians kick back and let the music find its own way. And it's not just noodling - the intensity of the instrumentals are up there with Coleman and Coltrane.
In this sense Little Feat are the ideal comparison, though Iron and Wine band are a lot more lo-fi - the Californians doodlings with jazz funk are the right reference point. But crucially it's not just beard stroking - the impros are tied to a strong song structure, full of tension and surprisingly funky.
To be fair they're not a bundle of laufghs - but they're an entirely enjoyable way to feel miserable
Martin Herron
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