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May 11, 2015 Issue #53 - April/May 2015 - Tame Impala By Zach Hollwedel

Especially for longtime fans of his, it is hard to ever meet the music of Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth, with any displeasure. With his slightly gravelly, nasal voice—sometimes compared to Bob Dylan’s—his brilliant guitar work, and his often poetic narrative lyrics, he is always a delight to listen to. And with an average of about two years between albums, he doesn’t keep fans waiting too long for his next output.

Dark Bird Is Home is The Tallest Man on Earth’s fourth album, and it proves Matsson is not only a consistently solid musician, but also one with an evolving sound, a man willing to try new things and expand his repertoire, but in a way that never abandons what defines him and makes him so great. One of the things Tallest Man fans will notice upon first listen is that Matsson has added a new tool to his toolbox. Before the end of “Fields of Our Home”—the very first track—a chorus of background singers supports him, and those backing vocals can be heard at other times throughout the album as well. Though Matsson most often sings solo, both on this album and throughout his discography, the supporting vocals add a new layer to his work, elevating it to a level he hadn’t previously hit. The addition isn’t inherently better or worse—it’s just different, and it works. Oh man, does it work.

“Darkness of the Dream” is slightly reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and Dark Bird Is Home is Matsson’s most pure rock ‘n’ roll release. Though very different, Dark Bird comes damn close to surpassing the strength of Shallow Grave, The Tallest Man on Earth’s first and eternally incredible album, and as Matsson continues to evolve, so too will fans keep coming back for more.

(www.thetallestmanonearth.com)

Author rating: 7.5/10