GIANTfingers - Album - "GIANTfingers" (PetRock Music 2001)

This side project of NYC based self proclaimed metaphysical cowboy Dusty Wright, late of the Wright Brothers, finds a chamber-folk music quartet (that's guitar/vocals, bass, percussion and heavy on the cello with a side salad of errr "sonics" and a little lap steel, in case you were wondering) producing a selection of songs and atmospheric soundscapes, all at a pace that makes Lambchop look like thrash metal. "i went walking" is redeemed by the occasional countrified twang and builds to a nice thrashy climax, but the cover of Eno's "baby's on fire" is a pale imitation of the multi-layered original, sounding more like a clumsy Lightning Seeds. Generally there's little here to get excited about, its all too laid back for that (think Tindersticks, aforesaid Lambchop with some David Byrne for the arty bits). "intimidation" comes on like a miserable Joy Division, "tempest" is a maudlin folk ballad and "harder to understand" is the only track approaching radio friendly (albeit at 3.00am) but the joke is stretched just too thin with the 9 minute instrumental closing track "awaken", which does the exact opposite, with this reviewer struggling to stop sanity slipping away. Only shoe gazers need apply. (incorrect punctuation courtesy of pretentious artwork inc). TJF

Date review added:  Monday, April 22, 2002
Reviewer:  Admin
Reviewers Rating: