MOTH WRANGLERS
Never Mind the Context (Magnetic)
Reviewed by Holly Day

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Oh, it's so refreshing to come across this among the piles of, well, other stuff that comes in. Moth Wranglers have a wonderful, unique sound that borders on cabaret, goth and folk simultaneously, tongue-in-cheek depressing (though never maudlin), incredibly beautiful and layered with unpredictable song structures and sounds that always, always works. The cast of musicians, under the direction of Chris Xefos and LD Beghtol, ranges in the double-digits and includes such indie luminaries as Chuck Fiorello, Victor Krummenacher, Stephin Merritt, Bill Tutton, and Jonathan Segal, all adding to the lush tapestry of piano, accordion, violin, and more traditional instrumentation that makes up this album, accompanied by both male and female vocals at varying points and songs. Favorite parts for me, of course, are the a cappella bits on the album, because the voices on this are all just incredible, and it's nice to hear them separated from the musical bits to truly appreciate how nice they actually are.

© 2002 - Holly Day