Kristian Matsson, the tall, dark, and handsome son-of-a-bitch behind The Tallest Man on Earth, is smart enough to know that there’s only three rules to Folk Music:
I. Don’t plug-in (just don’t do it, son).
II. Don’t be too precious and maudlin about it (sorry M. Ward; you can shove as many cotton balls in your mouth as you want to, but I’m still not buying it).
And III. Unless you’re Arlo Guthrie, do NOT try to be too funny (e.g. Devandra WHO?).
That’s why, like all the best mysterious, renegade, dark horse, clandestine-deal-with-the-devil-y musicians in history, he’s hedging his bets and following all the laws to the letter on his forthcoming album There’s No Leaving Now, which follows up 2010’s The Wild Hunt (TMT Review), is coming out on June 11 in the UK and June 12 in the US via Dead Oceans. Broody title? Check. Acoustic guitar? Check. Lyrics that keep the grad students interested and contain numerous and frequently deployed bird analogies? Check. Ahhh, that’s some good rule-abidin’!
Actually, come to think of it, i really don’t know what I’m talking about, as I have no actual idea of what his new record will sound like because I haven’t heard it. It might be a thrash metal song cycle about the lead characters of a daytime Soap Opera. Or it might have been produced by Jonathan Wolff and be hilarious and full of electric slap bass. Although, if the latter is the case, the dude’s probably right on-trend.
There’s No Leaving Now tracklisting:
01. To Just Grow Away
02. Revelation Blues
03. Leading Me Now
04. 1904
05. Bright Lanterns
06. There’s No Leaving Now
07. Wind and Walls
08. Little Brother
09. Criminals
10. On Every Page
Tourdates:
05.31.12 - Stockholm, Sweden - Sodra Teatern
06.01.12 - Stockholm, Sweden - Sodra Teatern
06.20.12 - New York, NY - Town Hall
07.03.12 - London, UK - Hackney Empire
07.04.12 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
07.06.12 - Berlin, Germany - Lido
07.29.12 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
08.17.12 - Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop
• The Tallest Man on Earth: http://www.thetallestmanonearth.com
• Dead Oceans: http://deadoceans.com