Plush is Liam Hayes, a keyboardist, song- writer, singer and Mellotron fanatic. Unlike his highly orchestrated singles, we get no Mellotron on this outing - just Hayes mostly singing and playing piano. If you're thinking Elton John or Ben Folds, forget it. It is more like Leonard Cohen on downers - it's that sad, defeated loser mood that makes this work. As for recording, you may think it'd be easy, but you try micing a piano! And if he sang live to the piano, well you know... phase checks. Anyway, it does sound great - Albini, Weston and Konrad Strauss did a great job recording this and it was mastered at Abbey Road. The more I listen to this the more I'm drawn in. (Drag City, P.O. Box 476867, Chicago, IL 60647)
Music Reviews | No. 11
Birds Don’t Think They’re Flying (Enchante) CD, American Water (Drag City) CD
by Larry Crane
People like Nicolas Vernhes and his Rare Book Room in NYC are the backbone of honest, real recording in this country. I'm not joking. There's million dollar studios with well-trained staff and full...