Saltland
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Instrumental, ethereal, ambient
Status:
Most recent release, A Common Truth (2017)
See also:
Saltland's site
Comparisons:
Glasser, Heather Duby, Lanterna, The Moon Seven Times, Cat Power
Covers/own material:
Own
Recommended first album:
I Thought It Was Us But It Was All of Us
Recordings:
- I Thought It Was Us But It Was All of Us (2013)
- A Common Truth (2017)
I Thought It Was Us But It Was All of Us
Release info:
2013—CST094-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Rebecca Foon—voice, cello, pump organ
Jamie Thompson—drums, percussion, programming
Guest artists:
Mishka Stein—bass (2-6, 8)
Laurel Sprengelmeyer—guitar (1, 3, 8); backing vocals (1, 3, 6-8)
Jess Robertson—bass flute (1, 3, 8); backing vocals (1, 3, 7, 8)
Sarah Neufeld—violin (1, 8)
Colin Stetson—saxophone (1, 2)
Richard Reed Parry—guitar (4); backing vocals (3, 7)
Kaveh Nabatian—kalimba, trumpet (4)
Bruce Cawdron—glockenspiel, percussion (6)
Alex Chow—violin (7)
Sarah Pagé—harp, dulcimer, backing vocals (7)
Mathieu Charbonneau—keyboard (8)
Mark Lawson—keyboard (6); programming (1, 8)
Produced by:
Mark Lawson and Rebecca Foon
Comments:
It's a little hard to finger, which is probably why I'm listening to it so much. Atmospheric, but a bit crunchier than most ethereal stuff. Hints of non-Western stuff. Vocals that are used as an instrument so there's hardly any distinction between vocal and instrumental tracks. I'm very much reminded of Lanterna and The Moon Seven Times. There's a bass lick on "But It Was All of Us" that I finally figured out reminded me of something from Morcheeba's 'Big Calm' (though I'm not sure yet what song). "Colour the Night Sky" reminds me of something I haven't figured out yet. If I had bought this last year I'm pretty sure it would have been on my 'Best of 2013' list. (JoAnn Whetsell)Kind of Glasser meets Kendra Smith—dreamy. One of my top discs of 2013. (Neile)
A Common Truth
Release info:
2017—Constellation—CST123
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Rebecca Foon
Guest artists:
Warren Ellis—violin, pump organ, loops (1, 4, 5, 9)
Jace Lasek—guitar, MS-20 (3, 7, 8)
Ian Ilavsky—backing vocal (4)
Comments:
Similar to the debut album I Thought It Was Us But It Was All of Us, but subtly different. Moody, atmospheric, maybe somewhat darker and edgier. It's a good album, but somehow I find myself wanting to like it more than I do. (JoAnn Whetsell)The songs are a touch more ethereal and instrumental, and it doesn't quite grab me as much as I Thought It Was Us But It Was All of Us, but still a worthy (and different!) addition to the music I listen to. (Neile)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
