by Barnaby Smith, first published in LondonTourdates #037 ,12th December 2008
Toronto’s The Silt release their debut album, Cat’s Peak, in January, and it is brilliant, we can report.
The first song, ‘Come Back To The Willow’ is a sensual soul number with libidinous wah-wah and flutes a la Marvin, or more accurately Josh Rouse’s 1972. Soon though, things take a more down-home turn as it becomes clear this trio have listened to The Band just as much as Otis Redding.
I have always thought The Band owed much to black soul, and this wonderful album proves indeed there is not a great deal of separation between the two. ‘Experimental folk’ seems to be a label tossed The Silt’s way a lot, and while fans of Will Oldham should investigate them next year, that description belies the natural strength of these songs. And their drummer plays bass and drums at the same time. Imagine.
