ANDREW DOUGLAS ROTHBARD Abandoned Meander
(Smooch Records; 2006)
Andrew Douglas Rothbard’s Abandoned Meander is a clearly defined statement of acoustic-based psychedelic folk music, updated with all the modern tools available to him. The thirteen track record of freak out folk blues is full of swirling effects and repetitive guitar figures that twist melodically around the percussion to create a bramble of music.
To me this is primarily an instrumental record even though there are vocals on it that are used to killer effect, like on “A Beginning” where Rothbard’s voice bounces around off the walls of a cave. It reminds me of TV on the Radio’s more atmospheric a cappella stuff. The production sounds like it was recorded in a home studio, but the scratchiness on the tracks adds an eeriness that suits the music. The title track sounds like a distant transmission of a pop song, warbling and slow like it’s been submerged underwater.
Acoustic folk music is the thread that runs through all the songs. Rothbard’s guitar playing sounds similar to Nick Drake at times, but his soundscape is pockmarked with rabbit holes stuffed full of Appalachian blues licks and ecstatic ragtime explosions bursting out of the ragged layers of fuzz guitar, glockenspiel, synthesizer, drums and acoustic guitar that fill the tracks.
Rothbard has paid his dues in the John Fahey school of guitar. “Paraxute” sounds like an acid trip through the cemetery of ancient acoustic blues players narrated by Devendra Barnhart. His playing reminds me of the Dodos, but the fuzzed out electronic embellishments exploding from the periphery suggest a match up of Ben Chasney with the Dodos, which would be sublime!
Abandoned Meander is a masterfully played psychedelic trip through acoustic blues-based songs beautifully tricked out with all the tools the modern musician has available.
Andrew Douglas Rothbard