Portland band Slender Gems released “Weaving The Wind” on October 1, 2022. The dynamic new LP has a lot on its mind. The Gems get plenty of things off their chest with a guitar-driven Americana landscape infused with touches of psychedelic sounds, alt country, blues and self-described pub rock. It all plays out over 13 tracks that vary from melodic to eccentric, sometimes at the same time.
Jordan LeVeque heads Slender Gems as lead vocalist, songwriter, lyricist and guitarist. His creative vision and phrasing create the map for the journey of “Weaving The Wind.” Ben Bilotti has many stellar moments on lead guitar. Malcolm Gillooly (bass) and Jack Stringer (drums) are able to traverse multiple genres and provide backbone throughout. (See more musician credits at the end of the review.)
Nothing like kicking off a new LP with a country-rock twang declaring the music is where it’s at no matter how it is received. “My Time Is Coming (Or It’s Already Gone)” pretty much covers the options. LeVeque is ready for whatever goes down: “My time is coming or it’s already gone, I’ve been waiting for something, have I waited too long? I’ma keep singing for the sake of the song…”
Then the venom flies as “Shame Spiral” directly and sarcatically goes after someone who did wrong in the past. LeVeque’s packed lyrics loop in and around the pulsing guitar work of Bilotti and create a folk rebuff the Waxing Poetics (check them out here) would be proud of.
“Hey man, it’s been a while since your style and your stature were something to be stood behind, an occasion for persuasion, you blast straight from the past to kiss ass and borrow some of mine, qualms of how you’ve missed me, all injury is history, a condition of contrition you’re dishing through your crooked teeth, storming up a sea of rebranded treachery, a sham apology of hollow deceit…”
“Shame Spiral.” https://slendergems.bandcamp.com/
“Shame Spiral” is a highlight and was featured as the first single with accompanying video. You get a feel for the band’s brand of humor in the track’s video.
“Bad Reputation II” has a sweet guitar solo and a 1970’s album rock pace that works well with the theme of turning that corner on the road to “better.”
“You’ve got a bad reputation, on the town that is the word, it brings about the situations, some of which are quite absurd, now there’s a mob out to get you, at least your twisted mind would think, that you’re speeding towards a cliff from which you’ll fall to your death, and getting closer to the brink You’ve got to turn yourself around, you’ve got to turn yourself around, before you crash and burn it down…”
“Bad Reputation II.” https://slendergems.bandcamp.com/
Continuing to work through it, to get it all off their chest, track seven — “Walk” — takes us on a 7:38 journey with a winding melody and scientific terms (planck length). That’s some sweet guitar work that enters and instantly haunts. The instrumental break past midpoint is top notch stuff. All the band are stuck in. What can’t be communicated in words is now apparent in a sharp, cutting string storm and wall of sound.
“Living in the haze of those dark days, the memories fade but the feeling stays: so many things I meant to say, I was lead astray, and now it’s too late / Or was it just fate mean to create some sort of substrate for delayed reflections on the ways that I’ve been swayed and pushed away? I’m hanging on for love to shine through to the vine I barely cling to: Something divine entwined behind the Planck length: Lord give me strength to, walk through myself with you…”
“Walk…” https://slendergems.bandcamp.com/
There are more surprises as “Dead Flowers (Sermon)” fuzzes in with an indie rock vibe. “Scylla and Charybdis” channels the blues. “(You Don’t Have To) Paint The Damn Town” presents a sort of pondering celtic jig, displaying futher versatility. Again with a lovely guitar solo. All sweltering and dissolving into a chorus of wo-o-ohs.
Slender Gems have taken us through moments of emotional cleansing and venting via a diverse range of styles and sounds. How will they end the disc? “Rosario” brings back the guitar fuzz and direct old school rock drive. The closer, “Cycle of Recirculation,” sends us off with a Pixies-esque / Red Hot Chili Peppers style vocal and contemplative guitars. The Slender Gems leave it with a sense of peace and inner healing. It’s all part of an ever-rolling and repeating process.
“Back to Eden through the womb, I went from the tomb, to the waiting room: The light and dark guides me back unto a time and place: River run back into the ocean, clouds form, precipitation rains down: the cycle starts again: cycle of recirculation The void awaits who weaves the wind: the beginning is the end: fall and rise Fin, again!“
The LP embraces and celebrates an impressive spectrum of musical inspirations and influences. The eclectic range of styles reflects well on the band. It sounds like they really love to play. The guitar work here is to be celebrated.
“Weaving The Wind” is a great listen. It will take you places and then surprise you with a different way back. It’s got so much to say that multiple listens will bear further fruit.
Unpack along with the guys, feel lighter, and then, like the universe —repeat.
LINK: https://slendergems.bandcamp.com/
“Hey, this is Jordan here from slender gems, just wanted to say also, Aaron Liu played phenomenal piano and Rhodes on all the songs with keys, Andrea Morgan provided the violin on “Walk/Arabesque,” and Paul Brainard played pedal steel and trumpets on “Bring it All Back Home.” Joey Wells-Furness played organ on “Bad Reputation II.” Wanted to make sure you know what an awesome job they did!“
Jordan LeVeque
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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