Artist: Ian Felice
Album: In the Kingdom of Dreams
Bitrate: 232kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: Loose Music
Genre: Folk/Rock
Size: 71.23 megs
PlayTime: 0h 40min 33sec total
Rip Date: 2017-09-30
Store Date: 2017-08-25
Track List:
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01. In the Kingdom of Dreams 3:56
02. Will I Ever Reach Laredo 4:46
03. 21st Century 4:32
04. In Memoriam 4:12
05. Signs of Spring 3:40
06. Mt. Despair 4:59
07. Road to America 4:06
08. Water Street 3:09
09. Ten to One 3:53
10. In the Final Reckoning 3:20
Release Notes:
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Between two things there is often a dilution of each, a middle of the road but
there is also the possibility of great fertility. I mention this as when
listening to this record my first impression (and so far itÆs an unshakeable
one) is that on this record Ian Felice finds a beautiful sweet spot somewhere
between Bob Dylan and Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel). ThereÆs a wonderful
off-the-cuff quality to the recordings (it was recorded quickly over 4 days
produced by brother Simone and featuring other brothers fraternal and otherwise)
as though the way the songs sound on here isnÆt necessarily how they will sound
again. There are strange lyrical flourishes û ôWell the aliens landed on
Election Day and they stole your motherÆs lingerieö from 21st Century is one
example û and at points an almost gleeful release, like itÆs a creative
cleansing.
It sounds as though it is from a netherworld between dream and memory. Indeed
the title tack is full of surreal images, the backing a simple repeated guitar
figure with a droning counterpoint until it reaches a mid-point rush of joyous
energy. Ten To One also skirts along the border between dream and reality and
heaven and hell. Road to America is the jauntiest song, pushed along by drums,
and more surreal images û ôDisneyÆs ghost carves the Sunday roastö. Felice
describes this song as being about mental illness and the chiming bells and
images of clouds of slaughterhouse flies certainly offers a skewed view, though
viewing contemporary events via a prism of madness is the only sane approach.
Though the songs do deal with illness and death, itÆs no ôCarrie and Lowellö û
itÆs more robust, more expansive. Mt Despair is full of beautiful imagery and In
Memoriam finds a lightness of touch that manages to mix the strange (communist
bees) with the quotidian (The Price Is Right). FeliceÆs performance throughout
is raw and totally convincing.
Domesticity is covered in Water Street, a song that has an indolent melody and a
chorus of sorts that is full of tender melancholy. Without trying too hard it
captures the fears and joys of parenthood and sharing your life with others.
Will I Ever Reach Laredo moves slowly before opening up new vistas, a few piano
chords augmenting the simple guitar providing a kick start and the drums enter û
the song continues to grow, the promise of a city in the distance, always the
wrong one, as though pushing on through a dream.
There wonÆt be many of you who arenÆt familiar with the work of the Felice
Brothers and if you are, you really should familiarise yourself with this. It is
an excellent collection of songs that holds together remarkably well, full of
intrigue and strange imagery. ItÆs a strong record and one I recommend heartily.