AUTUMN POETRY
From October to Marge (West of January)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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My son Paul came home from his job at Home Depot last month, and instead of talking about furniture, tools or paint, he was talking about a new extended play CD from Autumn Poetry. A friend of Paul's, Joshua Young, a local writer and musician, is one of the leaders of Autumn Poetry, along with Josh's twin brother Caleb. Autumn Poetry's latest CD, From October to Marge, is on West of January records, based in Bellingham, WA. The label is also home to Pacific Northwest bands Asahi, Goldstar and Garden Variety Tsar, and like their labelmates, Autumn Poetry plays original rock at local coffee houses, community festivals, block parties, and all-ages shows to further develop their sound. Each time I play From October to Marge, I'm astounded at how this young band has developed their own voice rooted in the British alternative music scene nearly a quarter century ago. "A Fairmount and Cigarettes" and "Home From Hot Climates" remind me of Brian Eno in his Before and After Science period, with lilting vocals and wraparound hypnotic guitars. "Superhero" recalls the layered harmonies of Orchestral Manoevers in the Dark or the Psychedelic Furs, but with just a little more edge. The band has mp3s of the guitar-heavy "Moonlighting" and "Afternoons In" online at www.geocities.com/hasiwana/october.html, and I hope we'll hear more from Autumn Poetry.

Track List:

Afternoons In * Standards * Home From Hot Climates * Moonlighting * A Fairmont and Cigarettes * Spots * Superhero

[Pick this up at http://www.geocities.com/hasiwana/october.html.]

© 2003 - Eric Steiner