After a few years of service in The War on Drugs, Philadelphia based songwriter Kurt Vile soldiered on as a one man outfit, self-releasing his personal brand of trenchant psych-tinged folk (or perhaps vice-versa) up until last year’s Constant Hitmaker. An equal disciple of both Neil Young and R. Stevie Moore, Vile’s amalgamation of influences afforded him a sleeper following, and a couple good label offers. Now, with a decent amount of buzz generated, and a recent signing with Matador, Vile is set to present his new full-length Childish Prodigy.
Tighter than his previous releases, or as he puts it, “less slackery,” this album is arresting in both its’ musical scope and bravado. Vile’s soon-to-be-signature croon, a bourbon-soaked Avey Tare impression with a shot of impenetrable confidence, steers and unites these 11 compositions. True, “prodigy” is a tall order, but I am having a lot of trouble finding a bad, or at very least insincere song on this LP. “Blackberry Song,” is a modern gem of AM pop. Like a decaf Ariel Pink, this folk tune is saturated in warm ektachrome colors, slowing thawing out. And when Vile goes for broke, it’s equally entrancing. The epic “Freak Train.” almost 8 minutes in length, reams like a hellbent drifter, and the fact that it all occurs over a locomotive drum machine beat makes it that much harder to pin down to any cursory music scene. The hypnotic Kraut-rock momentum, fiercely navigated by Vile’s warm howl, is as infectious as anything else to come out recently.
Gentle fingerpicking, bright tonal sprays of analog synths, and an impeccable ear for vocal melody holds every song on Childish Prodigy to the same high standards as the ones championed here. If my objectivity on this one seems feigned, well, that’s because it is. Such a tactful, researched, and persuasive statement as this is a rarity.
Childish Prodigy is available on Matador records October 6th, pre-order includes free bonus 7″.
For Fans Of: Ganglians, Woods, The War on Drugs
MP3 :::
Kurt Vile – Freak Train
Kurt Vile – Blackberry Song
