Garden of Arms by Peter Wolf Crier
LABEL: JagJaguwar

Peter Wolf Crier, the Minneapolis-based folk-rock duo behind Garden of Arms, are not afraid to experiment. In any track by Peter Pisano and Brian Moen, one can expect to hear sonics and warped instrument sounds, layered vocals (that aren’t saying the same thing), and plenty of percussion. The result is folky, tribal, but still something palatable to a pop audience.

The album opener provides of wonder introduction: “Right Away,” begins with this warped piano sound, adding Pisano’s repetitive, chanted verses. Featuring concise lyrics like “Right away you are the one,” the track really relies on the instrumental backing to provide interest. As the duo layer on a looped drum beat, shrill keyboards and plenty of tambourine, the song becomes richer, like a fuzzier, less electronic Yeasayer track. The following track “Beach” uses nearly the same formula (is that a rainstick I hear?), but adds a moody guitar part a-la Radiohead’s “Reckoner.”

"Settling It Off" by Peter Wolf Crier from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

Pisano sounds somewhat like a midwestern Chris Martin (of Coldplay), but don’t let that stop you from enjoying. Despite the group’s penchant for sleigh bells and tambourine, Pisano’s vocals are never overrun. It may have something to do with his Minneapolis upbringing, but even the simplest lyrics sound utterly genuine and earnest. Break-up ballad “Never Meant to Love You,” fades out with Pisano’s gentle call to an ex-lover. It’s hard to imagine anyone turning away from that kind of frank sensitivity.

Far from becoming boring, Peter Wolf Crier throw in the odd rock track, like “Krishnamurti,” the oddly-named jam that sounds like a delightful mix of Black Keys and Phoenix. Although lyrics like “you left each lullaby to sing itself to sleep” are eye-rollable, the song is the album’s most driving and definitely the sexiest track. Also on the rock side of things is “Hard Heart,” on which Pisano is playfully literal, stretching out lyrics like “stalling you” and “stand still.” Add on top a tight drum beat and deep, whirring bass line, along with some fast falsetto backing vocals, and the track is sure to be a favorite at live performances.

The album’s moment of startling beauty comes in the middle of album closer “Wheel.” The beginning of the track goes back to that early-Coldplay sound, but a little past a minute in, the drum beat and acoustic guitar cut out. Gently swathed in electronic fuzz are two vocal lines: a melodic lower tone and an angelic Beach Boys style falsetto. Ignoring their fondness for percussion, the duo instead choose to insert a cello part. As the song whirs and fades over the next two minutes, the The song gives listeners the feeling of being suspended, a strange but fitting ending to an album that’s a starting point. On Garden of Arms, Peter Wolf Crier are figuring out who they are, and it sounds like they’re heading in the right direction.


REVIEWED BY JENNIFER MILLS
JENNIFER’S FAVORITE TRACKS: “Beach” • “Krishnamurti” • “Wheel”

FREE MP3: “Right Away”
FREE MP3: “Setting It Off”