“Larches” are by definition pine trees that grow in the northern USA and often produce amazing golden yellow needles that fall away before winter. You can find them tucked away in parts of Washington State’s Northern Cascades. I don’t know if creator Jacob Cona picked Larches as the name for his music project based on the trees, but for the sake of this review the imagery works well.
Cona is from Athens, Georgia but now resides in Seattle, Washington as an Audio Engineer at the world-famous The Crocodile. I had already heard the LP before taking a relisten for signs of inspirations from both unique music scenes. Sure enough, you get Athens and Seattle in the record, fused in a beautiful new way.
“Attack Of The Telephones” is a wonderful listen. I loved every minute, every note, every production choice. There is a journey with peaks and valleys. There is sonic variety. There are heart-felt lyrics. There is a fusion of folk, pop and noise.
It all opens with “Vessels,” full of sonic heights and mystical lyrics.
The songs are ordered perfectly. “Vessels” gives way to “Call It Your Artwork.” We wander winding paths further into the forest. Those bright golden colors haunt us, drive us onward. Will we find them clinging to a crag or hiding in a mountain cove? Anticipation builds.
Three songs in and we are soaring with the guitar layers of “Birthday.” It’s a rich moment and Cona’s vocals have established themselves as a key part of the sound. The engineer steps up to the mic and proves he belongs there.
You hook me when sardonic humor makes an appearance. From “Sleeve,” check out these lines: “Well who needs forgiveness / When you can change your frame of mind / As long as it rhymes.”
“Best Of Everything” and the interlude “Untitled” seem to cement the collection as sonically enhanced psychedelic folk.
Larches surprises though with the seventh track, “No gods (was blind).” Cona can rock and shifts the tempo and noise to let us know.
We come down from “No gods” back into a fuzz folk forest. “Fashionable” is a sound engineer at work. It’s a lovely mood of layers that ends too soon.
What’s left to prove? Nothing — but more to enjoy as Cona steps even further to the front of the album’s stage and delivers a soft crooning effort on “Island.” The guitar ripples between vocal notes. It’s a vibe for getting back to flat land.
The LP ends with “Voiding Everyday.” Larches refuse to overstay their welcome. Cona simply won’t allow that to happen. We want more at the exact time he casts a spell that lasts just 2:40. “Even with my head on straight / I’m floating out to inner space / And it shows that the void / Is more gaping than usual today.”
This is one of my favorite new music artist LP’s of 2022. In search of sounds that moves me, ever so often the forest clears. Larches light up the wilderness with their golden needles.
The bright yellow display ends with the season. But “Attack of the Telephones” carries the power to haunt well past fall and into winter, or even beyond.
LINK: https://larches.bandcamp.com/album/attack-of-the-telephones
UNCLE EARS is a music blog written by David Falk. davidrfalk@gmail.com David was born in 1962 and gravitates towards melodies, adventure, unsigned artists, fresh discoveries. He trusts his ear to know what it likes and loves sharing what he finds. He lives near Seattle, WA, USA.
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