Fleet Foxes

I am listening to a new album from a young Seattle band called Fleet Foxes. The commitment to the voice as an instrument is evident throughout the disc. There are moments in the album where the vocal harmonies really step forward and become overwhelmingly powerful. So far forward on some tracks is the voice that you wonder if other instruments will appear at all. The vocal harmony and folk arrangements recall the brilliance of Simon & Garfunkel. Lyrically, appeals to the relationship of man to things and to nature take center stage. Oliver James is powerful song about a tragic death. The power of memory tied to people, places and emotions provide the fuel for these musings on life. In the liner notes, frontman Robin Pecknold reflects, "Any time i hear a song or a record that meant a lot to me at a certain moment or i was listening to at a distinct time, i am instantly taken back to that place in full detail." Who can't relate to this? It is very interesting to think about the songs you remember as a child and young person, coupled with the people, places and circumstances that connect them. This is certainly a worthwhile record. I am impressed.