Search - Salamander :: Bent Hemlock

Past Salamander releases have shown the band to be a skilled improvisational space rock unit with a minor emphasis placed on occasional forays into psych/folk song structures and lyrical territory. 'Bent Hemlock' offers up a stark contrast by focusing instead on an approach that shows off the band's skill in acoustic territory as well as their abilities as lyricists and songwriters. The improvisational component is still present (especially in the album's eerie and cinematic closing track, 'An Open Transom'), but for the most part it is employed economically, played out in concentrated doses as short instrumental interludes between tighter vocal numbers. This is certainly a departure of sorts for the band, but it should not be seen as a turning point; just a shift of emphasis and an insight into another side of these musicians. Space rock and psychedelic improvisation still figure prominently in the band's live sets, and doubtless the electricity will come back to recorded efforts in the future. For now, enjoy the respite and explore the new terrain. Inhabiting areas lush and stark, disturbing and revelatory, totally freeform and thoughtfully considered in near-equal measure, these recordings show a versatile band using all the tools in their arsenal in pursuit of new expression, and coming out the better for it