There would seem to be a pretty gigantic gap between medieval and post-modern. But U.K. trio Whistler manage to reduce it to a hair's breadth at times on their second CD Faith in the Morning. Which is not to say that former EMF guitarist Ian Dench, dulcet-toned vocalist Kerry Shaw and expressive violist James Topham spend these 12 tracks jauntily singing of brave woodsmen and maidens fayre. Far from it. These cuts are way closer to Nick Drake or Belle and Sebastian than Mediaeval Baebes. Even so, somewhere in the dark, haunted environs of ambiently folky ballads like Thank You and the title track -- both of which somehow manage to be simultaneously spooky and soothing -- there lurk the traces of ancient melodies, arrangements and mannerisms. Then again, maybe we're just confusing ancient with timeless -- which are two other seemingly contradictory terms that apply to Whistler.

Friday, February 16, 2001

Whistler have 'Faith'