James Hoare has had a remarkably consistent career to date. And while every band he's been a part of -- Veronica Falls, The Proper Ornaments, and Ultimate Painting, to name three -- has had its charms about it, I'd have to say that I almost feel like I enjoyed his new one the most. Penny Arcade is his latest outfit, and their offering Backwater Collage builds upon the influences that fueled James' earlier efforts, and adds new colors to the paintbox of this fine musician.
"Don't Cry No Tears" sounds like early Pink Floyd, when Syd was around in both body and spirit, while the lush "Want Your Around" ambles a path that suggests a listen or two to those Opal albums from the Eighties. Elsewhere, "Prodigal Son" briefly injects a twang into the indie-rock, while "Black Cloud" is looser still. This one, like the best material here, suggests an odd team-up between, say, Gram Parsons, and a very young Roger Waters. And even as Backwater College works up a mood all its own, the influences that have worked their magic on James Hoare have allowed him to craft something here that's both in thrall to them, and uniquely captivating.
Fans of The Proper Ornaments and Ultimate Painting will find lots of this Penny Arcade album inviting, and long-time fans will also hear Hoare stretching a bit. There's a greater emphasis on nuance here than on some other offerings, though James' song-craft is never flagging. A track like "Dear John", for example, succeeds not so much because its down-tempo hook is nearly hypnotic, but because the entire package suggests the sound of a dream recalled to tape. Those who loved that Tony Jay album recently will likely fall in love with this record too. The vibe is similar throughout.
Backwater College by Penny Arcade is out now via Tapete.
[Photo: Kate Mount]