AVTT/PTTN
AVTT/PTTN
Ramseur Records
Just when you thought Mike Patton had run out of surprises, out of the blue, he introduces a collaboration album with AVTT, AKA Scott and Seth Avett, the brothers behind the chart-topping, Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers. This country and bluegrass duo aren’t the first collaborators that spring to mind when you think of the frontman of Faith No More, Mr Bungle, Tomahawk and countless other schizo noise rock projects.
However, do bear in mind Mike Patton’s, Mondo Caine project, where he covered 50s and 60s Italian pop music with an orchestra or his hip hop-inspired Peeping Tom album. Mr Patton leaves no stone unturned or without thorough research. So, what we have here is an entirely faithful album of wistful and playful Americana that’s its equal parts of being kissed by the sun on your forehead on a July morning and crying into your whiskey after your beau has left you.
Patton’s low register vocal still is noticeably his, and some of his lyrics are still fairly menacing. He sings, “I want to hurt somebody just to let somebody know how I’m feeling,” on the opener ‘Dark Night Of My Soul’. The lost highway lurch of ‘Heaven’s Breath’ does sound like something Faith No More would do with heavier drums and guitars. On the Neil Diamond-esque ‘Disappearing,’ his kitschy croon is incredibly authentic. Lead single ‘Eternal Love’ soars beautifully whilst still taking the woes of the world with it. The best parts of this album are where all the voices here harmonise as they do frequently throughout, and you can hear where that Grammy nomination came from.
This is not the horrible pop country of Garth Brooks and his ilk. This is purest US roots music, especially on album highlight ‘The Ox Driver’s song’, a track that wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtrack of Oh Brother Where Art Thou. If you don’t have a soft spot for American roots music, this won’t change your mind, and if you came here for Faith No More adjacent rock, you will be disappointed. However, in fulfilling its own brief to create a joyful celebration of Americana, this album does exactly what it should do and is a delight for it.
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Reviewed By George Miller