Soft Hawk Prod.
Pure Horsehair : Stray Songs (2001-2003) EP (US,2004)**'
Pure Horsehair is Garrett Devoe, voice and acoustic guitar with Shahzad Ismaily, (originating from Pakistan) electric guitar, voice, drums and melodica. Garrett Devoe / Pure Horsehair played shows with P.G.Six, Laura Veirs, Kimya Dawson, The Sweet Bleeders, Karl Blau, Hannah Marcus, Currituck Co., Richard Buckner, Samara Lubelski, Elysian Fields, Canyon,...
The duo presented themselves to me as a ‘primitive psychfolk’ duo from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. These 7 tracks are compiled from early works and is in fact more a singer-songwriter related release, performed by a duo that neatly cooperate and contributes to what’s best for the songs. Only at first hearing, do these tracks sound -differently to primitive- or simple, but they aren’t. The songs have such a gentle, simple character and invite repeated listens before they reveal all details. I can’t say much about the songs themselves, because I’m not English, and I’m not able to show more attention to the words when the music itself works on its own, with every detail contributing, and the music does not require a more attentive listening to the words. Basically these are acoustic guitar songs, with well played guitar arrangements that benefit the song evolution. The first two tracks, “Red Night” and “The Hottest days of Summer”, are arranged with a second, amplified guitar. Third track, “Greener Pastures” is more psychedelic in a Timothy Leary meditative way, with handpercussion, a moody droney repetition, some backing vocals and sound effects, in a calm hypnotic way. “Heavy in the morning” is an instrumental played by rainpipe, tindrum, and bluesy guitars, with an instrumental group drive, and with a similar slow hypnotism, like mentioned in the previous track. Also “Beauty” has such smooth drumming with thumbpiano and some effects, and duo vocals. The concluding track, “The Fire next time” is a beautiful calm song with acoustic guitars and some violin arrangements. A nice CDR that deserves a proper release.
