Khancoban - Khancoban (Album)
The debut self-titled album from Melbourne's Khancoban is difficult to define; indie/country/folk/experimental comes close.
Khancoban was formed in 2004 by husband and wife, Andre and Jemima, and later embraced three more members: Andrew, Jason and Jen. Andre's warm and gentle vocals open the album like a storybook, slowly turning the pages to reveal tales of love and life. Khancoban, named after a mountain town nestled in the Snowy Mountains, weaves raw elements to create a mesmerising tapestry of song through inclusion of lap steel guitar, tenor banjo, cornet, groovebox and violin. The song "Smoke and the light" embraces these facets and is entrancing.
"Everywhere I see the sea" is more country than I can appreciate and some of the multiple vocals in the climax are a little grating. The simple piano in "Little lights, little rows" takes music back to its roots and displays the power of a pure melody.
The banjo accompanies the listener for a lazy stroll on the song "Take me where I might want to go". Having already compared the vocals today on a different album to those of Maddy Prior from Steeleye Span, I find it interesting that this band also reminds me of the uber folk rock group. Is this a trend in music, some kind of social reaction to the complexities of the music business and sophistication of music itself? Interesting album, quite unique.
