indy cd & vinyl

SOULSAVERS—It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land

The Soulsavers are an English-bred production duo who have previously specialized in downtempo electronica. Their sophomore effort, however, strays far beyond this territory thanks to the addition of former Screaming Trees/sometimes Queens Of The Stone Age/current solo artist Mark Lanegan on vocals (and lyrics). Lanegan’s smoky baritone always lends a dark, foreboding, even funereal presence to his musical undertakings, and this album dives deep into this abyss. With elements of folk, blues, country, and particularly gospel stirred into the drum loops and cinematic sweeps employed by the Soulsavers, It’s Not How Far You Fall… provides us with a rich, yet unsettling foray into Lanegan’s twin themes of penance and sin. “Revival” opens the proceedings with a drum crash and church-like organ, with Lanegan intoning “Say there’s gonna be a revival tonigh/Ohh-oh/I wanna see a revival,” and then lets the music sweep him away into the details of his quest.  “Ghosts Of You And Me” follows with a honking sax wailing in the background while feedbacked guitar loops provide the foreground for Lanegan’s talk of black cat bones and thoughts like “The cemetery is my home”.  Lanegan’s own “Kingdom Of Rain” is a beautiful piano-led ballad underscored by depressed musings such as “This rain beats down like death.” Film-noir-like instrumental passages add to the atmosphere, as do a surprising duo of covers. Tom Waits’ “Through My Sails” actually provides a momentary bit of uplift, as Lanegan and Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy) sing a slow but optimistic love song, accompanied by steady bass and superb slide guitar.  The album closes with a tour-de-force version of the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations,” transforming it from a country-blues to a haunting groover. So when you’re in the mood for something dark, yet musically superb, “It’s Not How Far You Fall…” will fill the bill in fine fashion.