THE brainchild of Kentucky born songwriter, Mark Charles Heidinger, Vandaveer have unleashed the follow up to 2007’s alternative folk debut ‘Grace & Speed’ with their multi-facetted new release ‘Divide & Conquer’. The band, now based in Washington DC, has evolved from a journeying folk machine into a more refined, harmonious group with this at times delicate second release.
The addition of heavenly harmonies courteous of Rose Guerin contrast beautifully with the straining gravel behind Heidinger’s sound and add another dimension to Vandaveer’s music. Welcome instrumental contributions by ‘These United States’ band mates, Justin Craig and Robby Cosenza, also make this record a much more layered offering from Heidinger and co.
The title track is a sign of what’s to come as it’s a slow burning, acoustic sounding song to fall asleep to, as Heidinger slowly narrates to a soundtrack of soft percussion, a winding guitar and smooth bursts from a piano. This backs on to a bed of rhetorical lyrics that are phrased to perfection, as Heidinger questions, “when you gaze out your window does it phase or envelop you?”
Heidinger’s voice sounds like a grittier Paolo Nutini at times and on tracks like ‘Turpentine’ the band bears an uncanny resemblance to British Folkster, Scott Matthews, with a meandering acoustic guitar and resonant humming that again combine beautifully with Guerin’s mesmeric supporting vocals. ‘Turpentine’ is an encapsulating, bluesy tale of unhappiness and sin that is a sure fire highlight of ‘Divide & Conquer’ with playfully dower lyrics to boot like, “when you dance with the devil, you don’t waltz for free.”
Vandaveer are at their very best in this album during the slower tracks that make the most of Guerin’s harmonies such as in ‘Turpentine’, ‘Fistful of Swoon’ and ‘The Sound and the Fury’ as she brings an extra emphasis to Heidinger’s clever lyrics. But not all of the tracks make the most of the harmonies or the writing.
An example of this is the rhythmic but ultimately unexciting ‘Woolgathering’ which is as uninspiring as the name suggests. An uncharacteristically bouncy guitar, intermittent piano section and soft vocal from Heidinger is sweet but difficult to listen to, largely due to its lack of distinct chorus or change in tempo.
Another elephant in the room is the blaring folk anthem ‘Mighty Leviathan of Old’ which features a strong willed guitar strum, gutsy bass and drum backing. As Heidinger sings, “With torches in hand we surveyed the land,” it almost sounds like some sort of medieval throwback with littered old English and that strong melody, but it does grate as the song wears on.
All in all the vocal addition of Guerin was more than a master stroke as she balances Heidinger’s gritty voice to create a harmony that was destined to be. Despite some rogue tracks, ‘Divide & Conquer’ is for the most part a masterful, articulate and harmonious collection of tales of woe that are pleasing enough to the ears to make you feel as if you’re day dreaming, it’s definitely well worth a listen.
7/10
Also published on www.virgin.com
http://www.virgin.com/music/reviews/vandaveer-album-review-divide-amp-conquer
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