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"A Minor Spell" is an EP released by Vandaveer in 2010. I've reviewed some of Vandaveer's other albums here and I'm excited to discuss this little disc because it's just as wonderful and gorgeous as their full length albums.
For those of you not in the know, Vandaveer are a quasi-folk/rock band. I'd say they were alt country but they're so much more. Nothing they do sounds like one particular genre. It's more like the bards of ancient days. Mark Heidinger is the poet bard wandering the streets of America sharing his unique point of view in magnificent songs. His sound is authentic, soulful and deeply moving.
Somehow, the beautiful entwined voices of Heidinger and Rose Guerin sweep around the room and fill you up with all sorts of unexpected emotions. These songs conjure such personal memories because even though he sings about specific moments in time he's experienced, the listener is able to relate them to their own life and find relevance. For instance, 'Everything Is Spinning' is a tune about losing a love and without knowing his story or getting too wrapped up in certain lyrics, anyone who's felt the pain of breaking up with someone can find those feelings rushing back to crush your heart once again.
Heidinger is more like the folk singers of the past like Woody Guthrie, Leonard Cohen and James Taylor without sounding dated and out of touch. He's the sparkling new version of a lost art form and he's made it his own. You won't be disappointed if you take the time to explore the music of this gifted artist and band. My final words: ANOTHER ASTONISHING DISC FROM THE COMPLICATED MINDS OF VANDAVEER! MUST OWN!
VANDAVEER - A MINOR SPELL
01. The Waking Hour (A Minor Spell)
02. Everything Is Spinning
03. Good Morning
04. All Together For The Taking
05. Ways & Means
This was actually my first album by folk rockers, Vandaveer. This is a solid disc from the opening strums of the guitar to the final fade. I think this is my favorite Vandaveer album. It's just so good.
The disc open with the title track, 'Divide & Conquer'. This number has a softer tone, but it's also bubbly and packed with rhythm. It's infectious. 'Fistful Of Swoon' has one of the most elaborate and natural builds I've heard in music in a long time! It swells up and crescendos so magnificently you can't help but sing along at the top of your lungs!
I think that's what makes this record so fantastic. Mark Heidinger writes songs that are catchy and fun to sing. The lyrics can be challenging because he's not trapped by convention. He isn't interested in rhyming "Red" with "Head" or "Bed"... He looks for interesting ways to tell stories and his vocal gymnastics are a great way to hone your sing along, karaoke skills.
When I think of ways to describe this band, I'm always left thinking about the poet singer/songwriters of the 60's and 70's. There was a huge amount of fame invested in these talented individuals who would squeeze the poetry from their souls and offer them up for mass consumption in the form of music. Vandaveer recall this trend. It's the wounded tones in the voices of the singers...the strain they put on different lines and the haunting way they compliment each other. You get a mysterious blend of parts that come together to create this otherworldly sound.
My favorite song on the album is 'Before The Great War'. This is absolutely one of the most amazing songs ever written. I adore it. I'd write the lyrics for the entire song here if I could. There are so many perfect lines that come together in this masterpiece. I find the line, "you gave children all the love your daddy stole from you", both sad and satisfying. It makes more sense when you hear it in context with the rest of the song but on it's own... It shows a heart capable of outgrowing the damaging pain of the past and break a cycle of bad relationships. I find it extremely powerful.
The album ends with a soft and sincere tribute to author Beverly Cleary's character Ramona Quimby. Once again, there's a focus on the passing of time and how even a storybook can become lost in the years after a child outgrows it.
I think Vandaveer are an amazing band and with such strong records under their belt, you can only expect even more enjoyable music from them in the future. My final words: A MUSICAL TRIUMPH FOR A SINGULAR BAND!!!
VANDAVEER - DIVIDE & CONQUER
01. Divide & Conquer
02. Fistful Of Swoon
03. Resurrection Mary
04. A Mighty Leviathan Of Old
05. Woolgathering
06. Turpentine
07. Before The Great War
08. Long Lost Cause
09. The Sound & The Fury
10. Beverly Cleary's 115TH Dream
Vandaveer is a folk rock group from the DC area via Kentucky. This record is the newest release from the band and I had the pleasure of seeing this group perform in a rather intimate setting. I saw a living room show. It was dramatic and amazing.
Stripped down to some simple acoustic arrangements, the performance was mesmerizing and more than I ever thought it would be. I absolutely loved watching this soulful poet sing and play his guitar with his group accompanying him. It was a heavenly experience. One I hope to repeat again in the near future.
I'm aware of the band enough to be familiar with their music and I have to say, this new album is somewhat quieter than previous efforts. It seems more comfortable and relaxed.
I'm still digesting this record. Vandaveer is one band with some seriously complex lyrics and some tricky vocal arrangements allowing them to play with the ideas and concepts they're trying to convey with new dimension and vocal inflection. Thus far, I love the disc and I usually just put it in and let it play. I like some songs more than others, but not to the extent I would say any of the tracks on the disc aren't enjoyable. I like every single cut on this record enough to consider the entire disc a hit. They really did a great job on this one. It's absolutely delightful.
For those of you who aren't in the know, Vandaveer have two vocalists. Mark Weidinger and Rose Guerin. They harmonize together on the songs. Weidinger takes the lead and sings solo bits without Guerin, but when she joins him, the sound their voices create is something unearthly and emotive. You can't help but feel the songs washing over you like warm water. It feels both relaxing and thoughtful at the same time.
I will say this record has more of a country vibe to it than previous efforts, but it's a most satisfying listen. Weidinger actually reminds me of a more clear and melodic Bob Dylan. He also demonstrates a preoccupation with life and death. But not in a morbid way. Rather, he spends his time wondering about the minutes and hours in between birth and death. How we fill our time and what we choose to focus our energy on. His musings are challenging, thought provoking. He's a thinking man's Dylan.
I can't say enough about this lovely piece of music. All I can do is suggest you pick it up and if you get the chance, see this incredible band live. They are, for lack of a better word, enchanting.
My final words: SPELLBINDING MUSIC AS ELUSIVE AND MYSTICAL AS WILD MERCURY. BUY IT!!!
VANDAVEER - THE WILD MERCURY
01. But Enough On That For Now
02. A Little Time Off Ahead
03. The Wild Mercury
04. A Little Worse For The Wear
05. Holding Patterns
06. Love Is Melancholy, But It's All We've Got
07. To Be Young, To Belong
08. The Final Word
09. Absolutely Over The Moon
10. A Pretty Thin Line
