BBQ, beer and songs: the three ingredients that brought California's Whispering Pines together just over eighteen months ago. It's this relaxed, Sunday afternoon approach that shines through on Family Tree, their independently released debut.
Taking their name from the classic tune from The Band, Whispering Pines is very much a throwback to a time when the likes of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd ruled the earth. Many of the songs have that back-porch swagger with some nice blues harp, slide guitar and a strong, but appropriately loose rhythm section.
The opening and title track sets the overall, relaxed pace of the album, with very little urgency displayed throughout. Swampy slide and moaning vocals invites comparisons to Led Zeppelin and Skynyrd's more bluesier moments
The ironically titled 'Brand New Beat' is probably the stand-out tune here with it's upbeat pace and vocals that recall Jagger's early days.
At track 3, however, 'Stars Above' is a risky move. Seven-plus minutes of slow-paced, blues-inspired rock that fails to build any momentum may lose any listeners who were just settling in and preparing to be taken to the next level. Not that it's a bad tune, but I am concerned that the poor placement by detract a few would-be listeners. That it's followed by a moody, farewell song in 'This Town' doesn't help the cause either.
'Grapevine Blues' picks things up with that familiar swampy sound and rockin' beat, again recalling the likes of Zeppelin and Skynyrd. 'Crazy Mama' on the other hand is a blues-inspired rollick that rolls along like a smoky haze rolls into itself before dissipating into the ether.
With very few modern influences evident, Whispering Pines is likely to appeal to fans that yearn for a sound of days past, free from new-millennium contamination.
Raise a glass!
6 months ago