Excavating 2004: Freaky folk that's not so weird
Vetiver. Apparently it’s a kind of tropical grass that’s commonly found in Thailand. That does little to describe why San Francisco songwriter Andy Cabic (he of The Raymond Brake fame) selected the word as his moniker. Further exploration unveils that Vetiver grass is often used by farmers to promote soil and water conservation. The grass grows upward in large clumps, but does not spread outward. Hence, when planted on a slope it forms a natural embankment that helps to eradicate erosion without disturbing the crop it serves to protect. It’s an ideal grass for a rainy area like Thailand.
That said, I have no witty way to tie Vetiver the grass to Vetiver the artist, but at least you’ve now been educated on one small aspect of farming in southeast Asia. Bonus!
Vetiver’s self-titled debut (on the DiCristina label) totally flew under my radar in 2004. Seeing as the group has been lumped in with the new “weird-folk” movement that’s taking the States by storm, and seeing as Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom and White Magic all ended up on my Best of 2004 list, I suppose I’m just behind the curve on this one. My bad. The guest appearances on this album are probably its greatest selling point on the surface: Banhart is around for all eleven songs, Newsom guests on harp, and Hope Sandoval (of Mazzy Star) even shows up to lend her voice to a tune. And--get this--Colm O’Ciosoig of My Bloody Valentine lent his San Fran living room and the occasional drum fill to the recording of this album. That’s quite a guest list for Cabic, a newbie to the folk scene.
But, after listening to the record, it’s easy to see why Cabic gained such support. Vetiver is a pleasure to listen to and stands stiff-spined in comparison to Newsom and Banhart’s recent releases. Drawing influences from a wide array of sources--Marc Bolan, Donovan, Nick Drake--Cabic’s songs are wistful and sweet. From a sonic standpoint, his music breathes deep belly breaths, allowing the nostrils to soak in the surroundings. Like a smattering of cool moss on the underside of a felled tree, Vetiver’s rich, tuneful songs are a pleasant surprise given the perception of the "weird-folk" movement that he's been lumped in with.
Cabic is easier on the ears and more approachable than counterpart Banhart and less pretentious than Sufjan Stevens. He reminds me the most of Iron & Wine, yet his songs are more textured than all three thanks to a full-time cellist and violinist.
Pitchfork described the album as “devoid of 21st century,” and I couldn’t disagree more. While the album’s pen-and-ink on parchment paper cover art might lead one down that path, the music itself sounds “hi-fi” and features a glowing, warm ambience. Vetiver’s lyrics are also slice-of-life in nature, a far cry from the esoteric musings of many of his contemporaries. And that fact hardly dates the album in any sense.
There really isn’t much information available online about Vetiver. Apparently, there’s no band web site, and the label is small enough to not have an internet presence either. A google search will turn up a handful of reviews and a couple brief interviews, but Vetiver is missing in action in the world wide web. I guess that’s the only way in which Pitchfork’s assessment was correct.
A trio of songs for you to enjoy:
"Amerilie" (That acoustic guitar riff sounds familiar, but I can't place it. That's Newsom on harp, though.)
"Farther On"
"Angels' Share" (Featuring Hope Sandoval on backing vocals.)
I love you :)
very engaging read, and extremely good music. I'm definitely linking you.
There are many uses for Vetiver grass. One of the traditional uses is as a medicinal tea used to calm the nerves and help one get a deep sleep. In Latin America Vetiver grass is often called Valeriana because it is has similar properties as the european medicinal herbaceous perennial Valeriana officinalis.
3:35 PMI love you :)
very engaging read, and extremely good music. I'm definitely linking you.
3:20 PM
There are many uses for Vetiver grass. One of the traditional uses is as a medicinal tea used to calm the nerves and help one get a deep sleep. In Latin America Vetiver grass is often called Valeriana because it is has similar properties as the european medicinal herbaceous perennial Valeriana officinalis.