Noble Dust’s debut CD And The Tide Rises reveals the potential of a band on the rise. While the music they have come up with is wholly original, it is also comfortingly familiar. This band’s ability to reach a wider audience jumps out at the listener in each of these 10 tracks. Voice, horns, guitar, and a twitchy rhythm section each engage in their own special way as they come together as carefully constructed ditties.
Opening track “The Harbor” features ethereal vocals, eerie sonic textures, and an ambient glide that ushers the listener into a songwriter’s colorful imagination. I can already imagine hearing this song on a music store’s sound system. I can hear this music finding a home on modern rock radio.
“Where I Left You” is a snappy pop-rocker with a unique edge. Lead vocalist Emily Cunningham carries this song with a sweeping heft of power, making the whole affair turn on her voice. A horn section chimes in with a fresh, juicy infusion of sound. This song is like sweet candy with a variety of flavors, and you’ll just want to eat it up.
“The Armor” truly gets a lift from a wide burst of horns and an adept drum fill. The horns carry well, floating and flowing like a magic carpet ride around the sonic landscape. Again, the lead vocal has an edge all its own, sounding distinctly one in a million in timbre, tone, and usage. It’s like she’s sprinkling her voice over the song and making it taste better.
Male vocalist Evan Spetrini takes over the lead vocal duty on “Stranger.” His plaintive timbre makes its way around the song with considerate phrasing. He carries us along his vocal path with a sensitive rendering of the lyrics, and it all feels like something special is going on with this band.
“Bricklayer” finds Cunningham singing in that haunted vocal style, perfectly expressing an emotion, matching an effervescent wave of horns. She glides over all with an abundance of high pitched vocal quirks, making, once again, the impression that this is a band that can distinguish itself. Cunningham coolly holds back her emotive force before unleashing it with an upward spiral burst of voice, a careful balance of her talents. Speaking of talent: the horn section of trumpet player Lindsey Cook and trombonist Evan Spetrini give this and other tunes on this album tremendous lift.
The horns intro “Witness” with a psychedelic swoop that sets up this song for a cool meditative vocal rendering. Cunningham’s vocal finesses its way through a landscape of edgy guitar injections, lilting grooves, and an aloof horn line. A soaring vocal, amidst an eerie flow of sound, creates, through contrast, a number filled with inescapable drama and tensions. This one makes me picture a well dressed man running from the authorities after his world has been suddenly turned on its head by way of ugly chance.
“Asylum” begins with a lead vocal darting through a swaying choral without any music. It has a strong, intriguing pull then eventually the band kicks in with a tender pop rock accompaniment. The juxtaposition of Cunningham’s anthem like vocal approach with the backing vocalists imitating a gospel chorus then juxtaposing all of the lofty vocals with the low profile band is a masterstroke of songwriting. One can feel this number tugging on their ears while also following its brilliant sense of motion.
“Fragile Thing” is a breezy, weepy feel piece. Cunningham’s voice pours through a brittle architect of guitar, oozing horns, and a sprinkle of drum fills. A forlorn saxophone conjures a feeling of mystery as Cunningham releases an engagingly considered vocal phrase. Voice and sax burn at both ends of this curio and the filling in the middle intrigues with a churning mix of instruments.
“Salutations” cleverly contrasts Cunningham’s quirky vocal flow with the nimble musicianship of her band mates. She sings beautifully and strangely over a running keyboard line, constantly popping up with spikes of energy within a neat and tight song structure.
Noble Dust close out with “Come Spring,” which is a fitting title for this time of year, when we are all still waiting for the spring weather to show itself. A galloping pace keeps this one filled with motion as a series of brittle guitar notes spin around within their own lively trajectory. Subtle piano and a quiet backdrop horn keep the piece consistently moody, alluring. It’s one of those pieces that make one want to keep listen out of curiosity as well as joy because one always want to know what this band will come up with in the next measure.
Noble Dust have come up with one hell of a debut CD. This ten track disc is a work of art. Recorded and mixed at Kennedy Studios, And The Tide Rises reaches incredible heights of achievement in each track. One can only hope that this group can get all the support they need until we are all watching them on Jimmy Fallon.
