By Brad Krohe
In 2004, Joanna Newsom made a splash with her harp-centered album, The Milk-Eyed Mender. For many people, the harp broke free from the confines of traditional genre assignments, only to be confined to another: the fairly self-descriptive "freak folk." Nashville songtress Timbre (full name: Timbre Cierpke) masterfully employed the instrument at a house show last night. On tour with ethereal folk rockers The Soil and The Sun, the classically-trained harpist treated spectators to a grand-scale set of chamber rock.
The Soil and The Sun are experimentally-bent folksters who produce whispering, rapturous tunes (they describe their sound as "New Mexican space music"). The Michigan quintet utilize the standard fare of guitars, bass, and drums alongside a grab bag of irregular instruments (including a mini-xylophone, a toy apple, melodica, recorders etc.) Performing in a friend's backyard carport just West of Troost, the group wrapped up their first song just as KCPD served an expected noise compliant. Whilst the group was performing in the back, the fuzz rolled up in front of the house and ran through the usual "turn it down" routine. Not to be deterred, the property owners casually announced the show would just continue inside. It wasn't a complete buzz kill, but the interruption heavily slimmed the crowd. Transferring inside the house, the group resumed their otherworldly serenading 25 minutes later. The smaller space and audience size allowed for a more intimate atmosphere, and the remaining showgoers welcomed the air-conditioned relief from the warm blanket of Kansas City humidity.
Frontman Alex Mcgrath's soft vocals seemed distant and entrancing, even when he was nearly shouting. The swelling crescendos and immediate drops of the percussion only enhanced the dreamlike quality of the music; they evoked the rhythm of drifting along in a dream, nearly waking up, and cozily resuming the big float.
Backed by members of The Soil and The Sun, Timbre lead with "The Wind May Be Beautiful," an arresting ballad that clocks in at slightly over 8 minutes. Her clear, angelic voice and traditional vocal styling complement her choice of instrumentation perfectly. Next, the ensemble performed a captivating cover of Radioheads "Spinning Plates," where the backing band played a bowed bass, accordion, and violin. The group resembled a fairy tale orchestra, with oddball instruments like a well-worn toy piano played alongside the imposing harp. Timbre would go on to play one solo song "acoustic": forgoing the PA system, the harpstress merely asked for everyone to be quiet. She then recounted the story behind the track "Fireflies." It carried such a weight that the entire house went silent as she plucked out the vivid imagery. Returning to amplified sound, she was rejoined by the backing outfit in delivering the titular track from her latest album, "I Will Go Plant Little Flowers." Her final tune, an untitled piece, featured supporting members Jacki Warren and Rachel Westphall lending their hands on the harp. The three ladies pulled a small symphony from the elegant instrument, bringing the show to a close.
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