Vacilando Territory Blues

We Say...

Review by James McNair

Joshua Tillman has been soft-releasing gently lauded solo albums since 2004, but since joining Fleet Foxes on drums and backing vocals early in 2008 he's begun to blip sizably on radar. Touring the U.K. with the Foxes in November 2008, Tillman also served as the opening act, airing songs from the quietly compelling Vacilando Territory Blues. It's his fifth solo record and another contemplative, wee -small-hours affair.

Tillman handles vocals, acoustic guitar, and, naturally, drums and percussion. Contributions from Fleet Foxes band mates Casey Wescott and Christian Wargo add piano, vibes, mandolin and ukulele to the mix, while other Seattle-based pals contribute cello, dobro, banjo and more. Contrary to what that might suggest, the record's arrangements are clutter-free and the prevailing mood is spooked-sounding, almost prayerful. This is a haunting work, made to either soothe or galvanize troubled souls.

Highlights such as the undemonstratively heartbroken "No Occasion" and the more classic-sounding "Someone With Child" make it easy to hear why Tillman has been compared to Will Oldham and Elliott Smith. Like those troubled troubadours, he has no trouble locating your heartstrings. He's also wise enough to eschew the layered vocal harmonies of his other concern, Fleet Foxes.

The record's stylistic cuckoo in the nest — albeit a welcome one — is "New Imperial Grand Blues," a rowdier, electrified beast that begins with succulent horns then quickly morphs to a stomp. But Tillman is at best on the album's more reflective material; he knows his voice has a purity and grace that hefty, clamorous rock 'n' roll would trample underfoot.