RILEY REASOR “Tumbleweeds” (Fuzzhouse)



The cover has a painterly portrait of the friendliest campfire goblin, and behind it is carefully drawn wallpaper.

The opener, “Life’s Green Lane”, jumps into a psych declaration, and leads into the title track, with purposeful guitar paragraphs. This is a travelling reverie and an earnest, getting-to-know-you phase with confessional warbles and meanders. Later, a video game chase scene with bearded guide, fine layers of trusty guitar interludes and bulbous beat carpets. I can’t help but mention that the first song that came to mind is The White Album’s shortest track, “Wild Honey Pie”.

Just in time for the solstice, it’s an intergalactic royal procession! A steady walk with unusually comfortable shoes, and at a closer look, the foot bed is lichen. Wait, a shift in the atmosphere, sunbeams through goblets of mead and a flock of hungry moths going through the wool drawer.

Now, a return to synth, but it’s a cliffhanger! By the end of side A, knowing little about Riley Reasor, of Seattle, I’d wager this is his Opus.

Side B’s “Wrong Angles” is a frolicking get-down with hi-hatty blasts and sides of jovial tomfoolery. “Gods Dogs Jobs + Golf” (great title) begins a tight drone jam and chant. “Green Yonder Valley” has a surprise addition of fiddle, establishing a strong roots transition, which leads to “Seasick Porch Trash”, a brief Americana. Then, nocturnal voice guitar duet, “Shuttered In” is more reminiscent of Syd Barrett and Jandek. This minimizes to the feel of handcrafted chairs with embroidered Conestoga wagons.

On “Lost in a cloud” the pixilated odyssey returns with frozen haunts. The closing burner, “Columns” is if there was a church service while an airplane takes off: the engines resonate with a higher consciousness. I found this to be a worthwhile ride with fine production and varied musical stylings.

http://rileyreasor.bandcamp.com/album/tumbleweeds

--Adam Padavano