Lee Harvey Osmond "A Quiet Evil" (Latent, 2009)

Further proof that the devil has all the best tunes


Far from being a lone singer-songwriter with a curiously warped sense of humour, Lee Harvey Osmond is actually the collective moniker for Tom Wilson from Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, several members of Cowboy Junkies, and numerous other talented entrants in their phone book.

Featuring the soft, darkly subdued vocals of Wilson which never raise themselves much above a whisper or an intriguing gruff and claustrophobic confession (and never need to..think Tom Waits starring in a private detective movie monologue soundtracked by Kurt Wagner), add deliciously sinister overtones and narratives to these dark tales, LHO are on a winner from the start. Every track here features the most seductively subtle grooves, constructed from the core of brushed drums and percussion, bass, guitars the occasional lashing of pedal steel. It’s quite clear that these incisive songs have been given space in rehearsal and some room to breath and evolve into the dark attractive beasts they are.

Displaying what they can do so vividly, ‘Cuckoos Nest’ lays back in 4 minutes of a 2 chord groove, augmented by some muted brass stabs, jazzy sax, and a smokey vibe ”I know Elvis, Sonny Liston, I know Madonna, Robert Mitchum…” Wilson sings in one of the album’s many curiously enigmatic moments that you can't help smiling at.

Elsewhere, the sprightly pace of ‘Parkland’ sounds like the radio playing the best Lambchop song you ever heard, with The Wedding Present rehearsing feverishly through the walls in the next room. Then, the gorgeous soft rhythmic shuffle of ‘Summer Girl’ (which sounds like it’s tempted to break into Radiohead’s ‘There There’ for a moment) is another strong highlight, with its unobtrusive pedal steel augmenting one of the albums most seductive melodies and reminiscences of tantalising love. Then as we approach the end ‘Angels In The Wilderness’ a beautifully sad and slow duet, mixes swirling strings and harmonies to an already heady mixture.

LHO have created something close to an Americana masterpiece here. Every track a gorgeous subtle gift, heavily reliant on deep but restrained tight addictive grooves, intriguing stories and melodies.

Quietly brilliant, but brilliant nonetheless.

Date review added:  Monday, August 03, 2009
Reviewer:  Ian Fildes
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  An evil space