Wagtail

SEVEN DAYS | June 13-20, 2007

By Robert Resnik

Vermont-based Wagtail has been together less than a year but has already developed a seasoned, “signature” sound–a solid rhythmic groove supplied by guitar and percussion instruments, along with two utterly different female vocalists. Every band member brings talent and personality to the party. Susannah Blachly is a stylin’ fiddler who swings effortlessly from high-lonesome Blue Ridge drone to Irish jig. Kristina Stykos is an able guitarist in her solo work and demonstrates that here as well, but she also sails on mandolin. Wagtail’s main guitarist is George White, and he also plays octave mandolin and sings. Percussionist Carter Stowell taps out evertyhing from djembe to marvelous tabla surprises on some of the Celtic instrumentals–a welcome texture that is still relatively rare in North American acoustic music. [EDITOR’S NOTE: It is Gabe Halberg (not Carter) who plays tabla on “Crossing the Causeway / Icehouse” and on “Boatman”.]

On their first ensemble CD, entitled One Clear Moment, White and Stowell lay down a solid foundation: White’s dead-on rhythm sense and percussive style compliments Stowell’s always-interesting backbeat. For Stykos, it’s all shimmering rhythmic melody lines on mando–no bluegrass chop chords here. And then there are the vocals. White’s soulful, steady voice is just right for country-blues numbers like the recording’s title track, a White original. Both women have unique singing styles, and when Blachly’s purr meets Stykos’ quaver, it sounds like what happens on your tongue when you taste salted almonds enrobed in chocolate. Delicious!

Wagtail’s choice of music–a mix of recent originals and traditional covers, some instrumental only–is very eclectic: from venerable Francis Child ballads (”House Carpenter”), to Stykos’ dark, introspective compositions about her state of mind, or life (”River Go By” and “Dirt Is the Color”); and Blachly’s poppy, catchy orginials (”Let the Light In,” “When the Sun Goes Down” and “Honey Man”).

The instrucmental tracks on One Clear Moment are all played with style and taste, but to me they almost felt like interruptions of the fine vocal numbers. There’s so much great raw material here that Wagtail could have recorded one vocal disc and one instrumental, both stellar. Maybe they should have.

Recording-wise, One Clear Moment is truly homemade–taped and edited at Stykos’ home studio in Chelsea–and the sound is clean and pure. The disc sounds even better with repeated listenings. See what Wagtail sounds like live this Saturday, June 16, at their CD release party at Positive Pie II in Montpelier.

(This review is archived on the Seven Days Web site, here.)

Art Edelstein reviewed ‘One Clear Moment’ for the Arts section of the Times Argus (Montpelier, VT), published Friday, June 1st, 2007:

“Vermont’s newest acoustic group, Wagtail, has released its first album,
One Clear Moment. This fine CD could propel this quartet to national attention, should they choose to go that route.

“Wagtail’s members have some serious talent […]

“If there is a defining theme running through this album its one of brooding with an undercurrent of musical tension. The brooding comes from the use of minor key themes and fiddle drones. The tension comes from the interplay of the instruments and the sense that here are four musicians who have melded into a band but have each kept their distinctive sense of self.

“For all their instrumental talent, Wagtail’s players never intrude on each other. If anything, the arrangements are spartan, with lots of room for the fiddle or the mandolin to take a lead. The men don’t overwhelm the women, and the women don’t tone down their male counterparts. What one gets is a very balanced set of tunes.

“Beyond the fine performances here is a very nice sounding recording. Stykos has emerged as a talented recording engineer and this project was recorded at her home with her hand on the recording console.

“In all, Wagtail has produced a first effort that is already mature and finely honed. While this band may be not more than a year old, it sounds as if they have been spiritually together for a long time.”

Read the complete review on the Time Argus site…