Band of the Week: Noisy Crane

Sometimes bands are so full of their influences work that you can help but compare and contrast the bands. The good thing about these occurrences is that when they happen and you like the bands they are influenced by, it is infinitely easier to fall in love with said band. One such band is Lexington, Kentucky's Noisy Crane. They have been compared with The Microphones, Neutral Milk Hotel, and have even been referred to as the South's Beirut. I have to say most of the comparisons are pretty darn apt, but it's not as if this band is completely aping the bands they are compared to. No, Noisy Cranes are certainly unique in their own ways, they just happen to wear their influences on their sleeves.

The brain child behind this Elephant 6-esque project is Cody Swanson. Like Zach Condon with Beirut, Cody is responsible for the majority of the music found on the band's debut album Portmanteau, but when he hits the stage he is backed by a capable crew of musicians to keep the expansive sound the same. That's pretty much where I would end the comparisons to Beirut though, as Noisy Crane doesn't go the world music route though some of their songs do sound antique. Instead of focusing on a particular area of the world, Cody writes about the world in his backyard using an array of sounds to fully emote the world he knows.

I've only given Portmanteau a handful of listens so far, but I am loving what I am hearing. The wide array of musical instruments gives so much texture to each song that it's as if no moment on the album is quiet. Swanson's Mangum-esque cadence is perfect throughout, and the few times he uses backing vocals he uses them in strange harmonies that are immediately interesting to the ear. It's a very cool project and something I'd like to see a lot more of.
Noisy Crane - "Trust the Moon"
Noisy Crane - "Carnival"
Noisy Crane - "Walking and Stalking"
Noisy Crane on Myspace
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Thursday's Readings from other Riters:
- Two things off of Brooklyn Vegan today. The first is a link to a completely free Professor Murder EP, nothing wrong with that. The second is a link to the stream of Jonny Greenwood's Wordless Music Show, also very awesome! Check 'em both out.
- Ms. Chan Marshall sat down with Rolling Stone to chat about her new album of covers Jukebox.
- The A.V. Club interviews Jon Brion.
- Bear Hands gets the Daytrotter treatment.
- Times New Viking is Pitchfork's Guest list this week.
- Boredoms have signed to Thrill Jockey and will are prepping a new release. (via Prefix)
- Bradford posted the outtakes from Deerhunter's Fluorescent Grey.