I was only peripherally aware of WOODS through my friend Jack Rabid, who has lauded their work in print and on his excellent radio show. The band formed in Brooklyn in 2004, and they truly have cultivated a unique sound, a hazy melange of psych and dream pop, but coloured with other musical flavours. It is a kaleidoscopic journey from start to finish, drawing you into its silvery-veined aural cavity.
The band has released Perennial on their own Woodsist label, which started up in 2006. The album blossomed from a bed of guitar/keyboard/drum loops by Woods band leader Jeremy Earl. It started off as nighttime meditations and evolved into writing collaboratively with his bandmates Jarvis Taveniere and John Andrews. This work resulted in Perennial’s 11 songs, 4 of them instrumentals. The others shimmer and shine, with a bit of uneasiness to offset the blissful moments.
‘The Seed’ opens the record, and it deftly mixes psych, jazz, slight bits of funk, and post rock in a delectable package. Moving on to the woozy chamber pop of ‘Between the Past’, you are treated to a charmingly offbeat example of dream pop, which winds around your feet like a hungry pet. The vocals are sweet and inviting. ‘Another Side’ is jarring by comparison, and you will not be swooning by the seaside with this one. Rather, it will prod you into an anxious state, wondering what musical twist and turn it will take next. ‘White Winter Melody’ is laser sharp and clean like fresh fallen snow, with pedal steel and a tasteful melody to tickle your fancy. ‘Sip of Happiness’ is deceptively pretty, but listen close, we are not in Happyville. Great but sad lyrics and beautifully rendered.
‘The Wind Again’ has glimmers of Ennio Morricone and Air, with some beautifully arranged piano, organ, and pedal steel. ‘Weep’ is a gem, and one of the strongest tunes here. Yet, the darkness is never far away, as evidenced by the state of the world we live in. Yet, it is music like this that lifts us, and thank God for artists like WOODS. ‘Double Dream’ returns to that merry go round sound, and boy is it lovely. Another favourite of mine! The title track is the end, and it’s short and chock full of the trippiness that pervades this release.
Great work from this underrated band. I like the musical direction they’re headed in, and can’t wait to hear what they have in store for us.
