[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts music review of Earthly Frames’ “Taped Over” album release.
Earthly Frames is Gabriel Walsh. It’s a kind of pseudonym, or avatar. A world he has created where he can be any musical incarnation his heart desires. “Taped Over” is his ninth album using this guise and, after playing in many bands over his couple of decades-long career, it’s interesting how prolific his solo work has become.
He’s a musical artist of obvious talent and achievement. Listening to these tracks as they melodically move from one to the next, it’s the feathery layers of sounds and the fine texture of his voice that evoke a sense of longing and sadness and a gorgeous retro feel. Very early Bowie, or Kinks…a bit of Mersey sound and a touch of punk.
Earthly Frames’ “Taped Over” is all very interesting. The mix is shiny and bouncy, the lyrics at a complete juxtaposition. Like a hilarious suicide poem…but in a good way. It’s melancholy, but neon. Cuddly bitterness and sublime despair.
An abandoned dinner in the desert with the jukebox still playing as the paint peels and the sand slowly fills the faded booths. It’s cinematic. Jim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, that kind of classical absence, echoing emptiness. Strange and familiar, jarringly poetic. I think you just have to listen to this to understand how the twanging guitars and crashing drums work with his words and spacious production and haunting vocals.
I like it. A lot actually, which is surprising since I am very over anything complicated right now. But “Taped Over” is worth the time you need to appreciate its depth and its nuance.
Favorite song…”My Worst Self.” Gorgeously self destructive.
Listen to and purchase “Taped Over” on April 3, 2023.
Pre-order the album via Bandcamp.
Musician/Instruments:
Gabriel Walsh is The Earthly Frames – Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Harmonica, Harmonium, Drums
With:
Graham Hopkins Drums
Neil FitzGibbon Fiddle
Daire Mulhearn Accordion
David Stone Uilleann Pipes
Mike Ballard Harmonica
Nikola Vlekovski French Horn
Nikola Ristevski Trombone
Micko Damnjanovski Tuba
Maria Grigoryeva Violin
Lyudmila Kadyrbaeva Cello
Producer(s):
Jason Merritt, Gabriel Walsh, Timothy Stollenwerk
Sites:
Official Website: www.earthlyframes.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthlyframes/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1I58idDJMmKaamg5NGuYhD
Bandcamp: https://earthlyframes.bandcamp.com/
Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/earthly-frames
Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@earthlyframes6514
Artist Contact Email: earthlyframes@gmail.com