Karl Leslie
St. Cloud Times
Swallows – Witching & Divining
On Saturday, the Minnesota band Swallows will release its fourth full-length CD at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul. The group has a great sound that blends influences ranging from Tom Waits to Rusted Root to Widespread Panic. Or, as the band says, the album features “haunting folk tales brought to life by arrangements that incorporate American roots and blues, tribal beats and old world traditional music.”
A review of the instrumentation underscores some of the unique sounds the band incorporates into its music: cello, mandolin, djembe, washboard, trash can, pipe, wok, sandpaper, melodica, marimba and, of course, electric and acoustic guitars, drums and bass. Check out the opening jam “Long, Long Shadow,” the Tom Waits-inspired “The Winnowing,” the cool, haunting “High Water,” and the jazzy vibe of “Walk Down.” That list doesn’t even include my early favorites “Rattle Them Bones,” “Brigid’s Cross,” “Roam” and “Seismic.”
If you’re looking for a fresh local sound, I highly recommend checking out Swallows.