Americana-UK

MOVIOLA
Rumors of the Faithful (Spirit of Orr)

**** stars

“Rumors of The Faithful” is too old for us to review, other than as a preview for the next Moviola record, “East of Eager”, which is due out in the US in February. But it’s worth pausing to have a listen, because this Columbus OH quintet make music that you can’t believe you haven’t heard before. They’re in the same orbit as Modest Mouse and Fruitbats, and have toured with the Lips, Steve Malkmus, Califone and Joe Pernice, and that gives you an idea of what they sound like, but not the whole picture. Though, oddly enough, maybe the best description for them would be that they have many of the qualities of Pavement, but are much mellower. All five of them write the songs, and it shows, as there are different and strong creative voices apparent throughout- the most apt quote of their own being from the organic-funk-alt-pop of the title track: “you’ve got your soul in California but your heart’s in Tennessee”, and that really does cover it quite nicely.

There’s an inherently rustic quality about many of the tunes, but it’s a quality which is as informed by having spent a lot of time in the City too; there’s a cinematic aspect as well- if some Americana-related artists feel like short story writers, Moviola come over as though they would be as happy making indie-shorts a la Hal Hartley. It’s the ability to be quirky, individualist and knowing, include ironic asides, and at the same time communicate real feeling, or to empathize so strongly with another, that you’re actually there with them. That’s the quality that Moviola have. They avoid the alt country and even Americana ghetto altogether, as their range is too wide- “John Butler Train” is simultaneously a box-based folk tune and a Velvet Underground inspired darkened murmur. “Oregonia” allows for lo-fi indie pop and somehow rich production values at the same time, the handclaps hinting (but no more than that) at Sixties bubblegum pop and Jake Housh’s vocal and the banjo pointing us towards the wide open plains of the Mid-West. I mean, how do you fit all of that in one song?? It sounds like it should be a mess, but it fits together with only a few rough edges, and feels like the handclasp of a missed friend. “This Conversation” turns up the electric element, and jangles jarringly throughout, as things get worse between the protagonists:  “This conversation’s gone astray, it’ll leave us wounded in it’s wake, we never meant to say….”.

Finally, “Misdirected Brother” sounds like it should be on the Anthology of American Folk Music- disjointed, raw and acoustic. Previews of “East of Eager” suggest that it will be even better- but in the meantime, get this record and cherish it- it will become one of your favourite listening things very quickly. -- Mark Phillips