Old Weave

Tight Knit
Vetiver
Sub Pop, 2009
3 stars

One of the many Wayfarer-and-plaid-shirt-wearing folk groups to emerge out of America in the mid-noughties, Vetiver have made ‘70s-flavoured free and easy guitar music their bread and butter. Tight Knit, their fourth album proper, is the kind of album one might chuck in the stereo on a Sunday morning; a soundtrack for time spent at home between trips to the Camberwell market and the local tea shop. It’s a pleasant stroll (perhaps a little too pleasant) through warm tones, the pace flicking effortlessly between soft AM folk (opener Rolling Sea and closer At Forest Edge are standouts) and countrified AM folk-rock. There are no sharp edges, however - nothing to challenge - which may leave the more astute listener wanting. An American spring/Australian autumn release is a good move though, as the transitional seasons match the album’s reflective tone perfectly.

Artwork: B+
A nice combination of astronomy themes and bold, modern design. Not bad. The cardboard that the digipak is made out of is a bit thick, though. And by Sub Pop's standards (remember, these guys are responsible for some recent/amazing Wolf Parade and No Age album artwork), it's a bit low-key. A raw stock would've looked a hell of a lot nicer than this shiny white stuff.

Published in mX, Thursday March 26, 2009.