The Walkabouts: Chris Eckman (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, piano, samples, loops, wobble board); Carla Torgerson (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, piano, percussion, tapes); Glenn Slater (piano, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, Arp & Moog synthesizers, tapes); Terri Moeller (bass, drums, percussion); Fred Chalenor (bass).
Additional personnel: Kevin Suggs (pedal steel); Tyler A. Reilly, Rebecca Clemens-Keith (violin); April Acevez Cameron (viola); Christine Gunn, Justine Foy (cello); Bev Setzer (clarinet); Phil Brown (loops, sound effects).
Recorded at Paradise Sound, Index, Washington; Avast!, Seattle, Washington; Swanyard, London, England.
The Walkabouts hail from the same Pacific Northwest scene that gave the world Nirvana, yet they have more in common with Fairport Convention, the Byrds, and Wilco than with any notion of grunge. Hauntingly melodic, rooted in Anglo-American folk and folk-rock, singing songs that tell stories, the Walkabouts have earned a loyal following in Europe while achieving cult status in the U.S. TRAIL OF STARS deserves to win them new fans--it's a departure from their roots-rock sound but it retains the evocative, melancholy tone of their best stuff. Here, the Walkabouts have more in common with Laika and Portishead--the music is atmospheric, full of shimmering textures and ominous rhythms, with a judicious use of samples and electronics. Carla Olson's voice is still a poignant delight, recalling an older, wiser Natalie Merchant or Beth Orton. "On the Day" would be perfect for a murder-mystery movie, and the eerie, Chris Isaac-like "Till I Reach You" will teach you more than you need to know about obsessive heartache.
