David Kilgour, Feather In The Engine (Merge) 9
David Kilgour is an icon of the New Zealand indie-pop scene, having founded The Clean in 1979 and kicking off the Flying Nun label's first release. Influenced by Dylan, the Velvets and West Coast psychedelia, Kilgour has created an impressive body of work over the past 23 years. Feather In The Engine is his fourth solo album, which offers Kilgour's recognizable reverberated open-string guitar playing. The album vacillates between hypnotic instrumentals that sound improvised, and melodic pop songs. The chugging "All The Rest" could fit comfortably on an old Yo La Tengo or Clean album. "The Perfect Watch" features more folky, chiming acoustic guitar with vocals that seem constantly on the verge of floating off into the clouds. Other highlights include the piano-led "I Lost My Train" and the joyously catchy "Today Is Gonna Be Mine." "I Caught You" is a black-lit psychedelic dirge fueled by a deep throbbing bass riff. "Instra 2 Reprise" lightens up with an airy chamber arrangement courtesy of Graeme Downes of The Verlaines. The meandering, spaced- out mood of that and "Wooden Shed" echoes Big Star's Sister Lovers. "Which One" reads like a Zen koan, and seems to be a tribute to Nick Drake, combining his songs "Which Will" and "Fly," complete with masterful acoustic finger picking. A short album at 38 minutes, Feather In The Engine can seem a bit slight. If the more rocking songs whet your appetite, it can be more than satisfied by Kilgour's extensive back catalog. At a time when big statements seem to be requisite, Feather is a fresh breeze.
