WASHINGTON IRVING-PALOMIDES VOLUME 1.

dereksmusicblog ♦ September 17, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment

WASHINGTON IRVING-PALOMIDES VOLUME 1.

Visitors to Washington Irving’s website are greeted with what could be their musical manifesto, “We Are Electric Folk and Like To Play Loudly.” That’s no idle boast. Far from it. Washington Irving can walk the walk. Unlike many bands, Washington Irving let their music do the talking. Washington Irving don’t do hype or posturing. Instead, they win people over with their music. Recently, Washington Irving have won over plenty of people. They’ve opened for Frightened Rabbit, become festival favorites and released their debut album Palomides Volume 1, which was released in conjunction with Creative Scotland. 

Palomides Volume 1 is no ordinary album. No. It’s half on album. Washington Irving decided to release their debut album in two parts. That’s the relevance of Volume 1. These five tracks are just a tantalizing taste of Washington Irving’s music. The music on Palomides Volume 1 is best described as a anthemic fusion of folk and rock. This is the music that’s won over audiences all over Britain. All this has seen Washington Irving become one of Scotland’s most popular bands. So the future looks bright for Washington Irving, but who are Washington Irving?

On the face of it Washington Irving, are a cerebral band. After all, how many bands share a name with one of America’s literary greats and the hero of a T.H. White’s 1958 fantasy novel The Once and Future King? Washington Irving do. This makes you think they’re no ordinary band. They’re not. 

Washington Irving a Scottish band, one who are proud of their Scottish roots. The five members of Washington Irving are from Oban in the West coast of Scotland and Aberdeen in the north of Scotland. Lead singer Joe Black is from Dalmally, while Martin Anfield, Kieran Heather and Chris McGarry are fall from Oban. Rory MacDonald is the lone Aberdonian in Washington Irving, who are now based in Glasgow, their adopted hometown. However, Washington Irving haven’t forgotten where they’re from. Far from it. You won’t find Washington Irving singing in a mid-Atlantic accent.  They’re proud of their Scottish roots.

Ask the legion of people who have seen Washington Irving live or bought their music. Their first release was the five-track Little Wanderer, Head Thee Home E.P. It was released in March 2010. Since then, Washington Irving have been focusing on honing their sound and building a following. 

After releasing Little Wanderer, Head Thee Home, Washington Irving did what thousands of bands have done before. They headed out on a never ending series of tours. Playing venues big and small, Washington Irving spread the word. Gradually, word spread about this Glasgow based quintet called Washington Irving. Next step was festivals. That meant playing to bigger audiences. Even more people were being won over by Washington Irving. This included Frightened Rabbit.

Last year, Washington Irving headed out on tour with another Scottish band, Frightened Rabbit. By then, their reputation had grown and they’d established a reputation as festival favorites. Their anthemic fusion of folk and rock was winning friends and influencing people. So, this was the perfect time to record their debut album.

To record Palomides Volume 1, Washington Irving headed into the studio with producer Marcus McKay. He’s a member of Frightened Rabbit who’d already released three albums. Along with violinist Pedro Cameron, trombonist Pete MacDonald and backing vocalist Ceylan Hay, five tracks were recorded at the Diving Bell Lounge. These five songs became Palomides Volume 1.

Palomides Volume 1 features five tracks which introduces you to a cerebral band. Their Joe Black’s lyrics are intelligent and literate. History, and especially literature in an inspiration to the band. The work of the other two Washington Irvings has inspired lyricist Joe Black, especially Tales From Sleepy Hollow and The Once and Future King. Joe asks big questions. Not for him, inane frivolities like “She Loves Me.” Far from it. Instead, Joe’s interested in history, plus people, and how they react to the world around them. All this is discussed by Washington Irving during the five tracks on Palomides Volume 1 which I’ll tell you about.

Wandering Wits opens Palomides Volume 1. Straight away, this toe-tapping track grabs your attention and transports you to Scotland. It has a quintessentially Scottish sound. For expats everywhere, they’ll be booking a ticket home. Accompanied by searing guitars, a pounding rhythm section and sweeping, cascading harmonies, an anthem unfolds. Joe’s vocal is a mixture of power and passion. He doesn’t try to disguise his Scottishness. He’s proud of where he’s from. As his vocal drops out, the rest of the band take charge. Joyous harmonies join thunderous drums, while guitars produce a similar sound to Big Country and Runrig. Along with Joe’s vocal they’re responsible for this rousing anthem’s success as folk and rock combines majestically.

Drums provide a pulsating heartbeat while crystalline guitars add to the drama of Holy Company. They set the scene for Joe’s vocal. His lyrics are full of imagery, sadness and emotion. He’s like a painter, painting pictures of pre-Raphaelite beauties and adventurers of to explore distant lands. The lyrics are a trip back in time, and are influenced by the band’s interest in history and literature. These lyrics come to life. They’re vivid, wistful and emotive. There’s a sense of melancholia and confusion in the vocal. Is he doing the right thing, would a simpler life be better and does he need to go? Tender, cooing harmonies, provide a contrast as Joe delivers a vocal that’s full of emotive, pensive and heartfelt.

Chiming, crystalline guitars open You’ve Seen the Last of Me before the rhythm section provide a backdrop for what is Joe’s best vocal so far. He’s accompanied by a female vocalist Ceylan Hay whose the perfect foil for Joe’s soul baring vocal. They’re a musical ying and yang, bringing the best out of each of other. Ceyland and Joe deliver tender vocals, while jaunty, riffing, chiming guitars and the rhythm section provide the heartbeat to what’s another rousing, uplifting and anthemic paean.

On She Moved Through the Fair we hear a very different side to Washington Irving. It’s a much more understated, subdued sounding track, laden in emotion and sadness. The sadness and emotion comes from Joe’s vocal. Again, he forsakes the power of earlier songs, but not the passion as the lyrics come to life. At the start, it sounds as if the band have unplugged. They’ve haven’t. Spacious, dramatic deliberate guitar licks chime and soar above the arrangement which has several surprises in store. From the searing guitar riffs, Washington Irving kick loose. Joe scats, before the arrangement is pared back to just his tender vocal and guitar. The arrangement grows in power and drama as a delicious fusion of folk, rock and blues heads to dramatic crescendo.

Closing Palomides Volume 1 is Old St Luan, a song that. From the get-go, Washington Irving unleash deliberate dramatic licks. They’re designed to grab your attention and ensure you listen to what are some of the best lyrics on Palomides Volume 1. They’re full of imagery and emotion, conjuring up pictures that transport you into the world of Washington Irving. Driven along by an acoustic guitar and the rhythm section Joe Black becomes an old-fashioned storyteller. He sings with real passion about people coming to Scotland. So vivid is the picture, that you can imagine them heading to the islands to build their new home. Then later, Joe becomes tortured troubadour. Here, inspiration comes from The Pogues, Big Country and Runrig on this evocative musical journey.

Although just five songs and twenty-two minutes long, Washington Irving’s debut album Palomides Volume 1 it’s a delicious taste of what’s to come. They’re an experienced band whose decision to concentrate on touring and building a following has paid off. By the time Washington Irving headed into the studio, they were a tight and talented band. Seamlessly, the fuse folk, rock and blues. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of two successful Scottish bands Big Country and Runrig. Washington Irving pick up the baton from Big Country and Runrig. Other influences include Arcade Fire, The Pogues and The Proclaimers. All these influences play their part in one of Scotland’s best up-and-coming bands.

Just now, there are so many promising and successful Scottish bands. That’s been the case since the late-seventies. Sadly, many of these bands neither enjoyed the commercial success nor critical acclaim they deserved. Washington Irving should. They’re the latest up-and-coming Scottish band who look like enjoying a successful career. If Palomides Volume 2 which will be out at the start of November 2013, is as good as Palomides Volume 1, then the next step for Washington Irving should be signing for a label. Their unique fusion of fold, rock and blues deserves a much wider audience, far from Scotland’s shores. I’m sure Scottish expats everywhere will be won over by Washington Irving’s debut album Palomides Volume 1. I certainly was. Washington Irving’s debut album Palomides Volume 1 might only be five songs long and last twenty-two minutes, but it’s a the first step in what should a long and successful career for Washington Irving.

WASHINGTON IRVING-PALOMIDES VOLUME 1.