Search - The Shakers :: Songs from Beneath the Lake

Adventurous

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 06/23/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Apparently there are 2 bands that go by "The Shakers." This one is an airy U.S. outfit with lead vocals by Rebecca Stout, guitar by Oscar Rice & mandolin by Robert Logue. "Songs from Beneath the Lake" does have an eerie Blair Witch quality like the cover art of a girl apparently crawling up out of the lake. They do a version of a Jimmy Page/Robert Plant tune, "The Rain Song," with strong Stout vocals as her voice goes from wail to shriek, "I watch the fire that burns so long." Shakers' sound is largely acoustic with guitars chiming. In this they are a kissing cousin to Hem, but unlike Hem they delve into vocal dissonance which makes for a spooky kind of moan in the music as on "King of the Cave Fish." Perhaps the best track is the instrumental "Damballah-Wedo" with lovely Nickel Creek-like interplay between guitar & mandolin. "Prayer for the Snake" has inventive percussion and more unique vocals, "Naked & sleepy I drowse like a child." "Old Drums" has a Native American flavor to the musical chant. The set concludes sprightly with chiming guitar on "Stand Up." Shakers are an interesting band, predating Hem & Nickel Creek with this 1988-89 recording. While amazingly unique, not everything works exceptionally well. This is music for the adventurous. Enjoy!"