Somewhat underappreciated, but nonetheless gloriously indie band Lord Huron attempt to inhabit a purposeful place of artistic depth. They are hidden architects of a forgotten musical age, crafting a vintage spectrum across a green-hued backdrop, sounding something slightly like psychedelic cowboys gathered around a campfire in their latest album, Vide Noir. The most recent work seems to cast a glimpse into a rockabilly fairy tale, all moving at a languishing pace, cinematic and very intentional.
Frontman Ben Schneider is a heavy dose of old-world charm doused in a bit of hubris. Conjuring memories of long-ago artists like Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, and, more recent artists such as Dwight Yoakum but with an obvious mutability to make it his own. He has mastered the skill of having just enough sadness, longing and vocal emotive contortion to evoke a bittersweet delivery, leaving the crowd in a lulled, communal awe. They struck me as old souls sharing old stories of love, loss and emotional wreckage with proficient authenticity when I caught them during their recent tour. With swimming harmonies, lofty and dreamy reverb and enough grit to take it out of the overly-affected range, 6-piece band Lord Huron audibly bring much to the table and excel in creating a sort of funhouse view of love and the world.
Like travelling troubadours from a lost time, Lord Huron weave their fusion of old school country, slight folk, with a hint bluegrass occasionally measured in. All of the sinewy notes meshed with a nod to captivating retro imagery and moodiness. The track, ‘Wait By The River’ encapsulates their aim with this album and I think is the standout single. It’s symphonic yet a bit twisted lyrically. It’s slow and steady but when Schneider injects his untethered passion into it, all building to the crescendo of the upper register, it’s a rending to take notice of.
When seeing them perform live, as Schneider approaches the tipping point in that particular song, he sweeps off his hat taking it to his chest in a grand gesture, like something out of an old movie, and I instantly felt my heart crush a bit with all the drama of the whole setting. All I could think was, this band is a genuine jewel.
Keep up with the band here.
Photos courtesy of ©PremiumPhotographic
- Latitude 2024 – Festival Review - August 5, 2024
- Haircut 100, Cambridge Corn Exchange – Gig Review - November 14, 2023
- Cambridge Folk Festival 2023 – Gig Review - August 4, 2023