Coyote Bones - Niobrara
Coyote Bones are a mysterious band from Atlanta, Georgie. Very little is known about them, though to one’s surprise, their music is magnificently vibrant and exceptionally well produced. Riding on genres such as blues and indie rock, Coyote Bones are not entirely unique, but are undeniably quite impressive.
The Fleet Foxes-inspired opener Down River opens the album well, though it’s the expressionate Peace of my Spine that steals the show. Disturbance in your mind has a gorgeous blend of instrumentation, incorporating bells, trumpets and a pleasant layer of voices. A delightful standout. When the track gets noisier, it harkens back to the glorious days of Neutral Milk Hotel; unfortunately, the album mostly focuses on simple and accessible instrumentation, but it’s surprisingly quite enjoyable. Despite how raw and lo-fi the aesthetic is, the album is miraculously clean; perhaps due to a skilled producer. The album’s highlight is easily Surrender To The Night, which g orgeously fuses iridescent, twinkly tones with beautifully soft-spoken vocal deliveries and sharp, elegant acoustics. Stained Glass Sky is also divine, with the strengths of the track lying in the worn-down desolate recording studio; impeccably enhancing the cold, distant keys. The studio works just as well for Catching a Fish. The charming aesthetics are not strong enough to carry the simpler compositions, though. Moving Mountains To Get To Other Mountains and Crying Dog are far too plain, and by the end of the album its begins to enter far too familiar territories.
Niobrara almost feels like an industry plant; the album is so sharp and well executed, it’s hard to believe it didn’t come from a major studio. Nevertheless, it’s overflowing with passion and solid ideas. Unfortunately, it also plays it incredibly safe; many of these songs are as formulaic as a blues-folk record get. Here’s hoping the band return a decade later with something more substantial, though for what it’s worth, Niobrara is a solid finale for the band’s short lived career.
Good
Listen to it here:
Coyote Bones - Niobrara
