Candy Claws, Hidden Lands

By John Lane

I happily stumbled upon the duo named Candy Claws (now a sort of band) not too long ago. Their 2009 album, In the Dream of the Sea Life gives off a Wes-Anderson/Steve-Zissou vibe, from the quirk,y mostly-instrumental cinematic sounds right down to the design and packaging.

Sound architects Ryan Hover and Kay Bertholf return this year with Hidden Lands, an album that represents somewhat of a sideways progression. For hipsters clamoring for another boy/girl duo-combo (i.e., Beach House, She & Him), this will satisfy that need. What separates Hover and Bertholf from the pack, however, is the fact that there is a certain joyous naiveté that seems to guide them and makes their existence all the more curious and appealing.

Described as “a musical companion to Richard M. Ketchum’s book, The Secret Life of the Forest, this means that it’s incumbent upon Joe Music Listener to actually Google this title or even (dare I say it in this day and age?) visit a library. Ketchum’s book is to woods-y goodness as Audubon was to birds; it’s lushness confined within a textbook-ish framework. Or rather, it’s the Platonic ideal of The Woods (in all caps) without all the mess of being mauled by a grizzly bear or shot in the back by an errant hunter.

Hidden Lands has already drawn attention to itself with its standout track, “Sunbeam Show” being circulated in advance, and already the inevitable Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds comparisons have been bandied about. This applies to this song only, folks, so be aware. Yes, the cavernous, answering guitar lines sound transplanted from “That’s Not Me,” but that’s where the line is drawn.

What you get more of on this album is sort of the love child between Cocteau Twins and Tortoise, as the union of breathy vocals and instrumentals seem like they might take over. Oh heck, let’s throw in a bit of Sven Libaek, for good measure, as this could be soundtrack music to a nature documentary.

The question that surfaces then is: does this album survive the dreaded sophomore slump? To that, I can add an unequivocal YES, as Hidden Lands refines everything Candy Claws learned from their first outing.

True to form, they manage to create a truly organic feel from an eclectic blend of electronics (processed, reprocessed, and samples within samples), which makes for a special kind of alchemy. “Warm Forest Floor” elicits an aching sense of familiarity, perhaps the sound of forest nymphs whispering in your air while you gaze up at an endlessly tall fir pine. Likewise “Silent Time of Earth” has a gorgeous tropical feel, as if the beach is just beyond the woodland’s edge.

My only caveat is the preponderance of breathy vocals. I know they put a helluva lot of effort into choosing the right words, but they get lost in the mix. Sure, it’s plain that the words are meant to augment feeling (breathy vocals = gentle wind), but I’ve been Sufjan-Stevens’d to death by countless groups. Time to bring the vocals up and not sit shyly behind your microphone.

That said, this album is a joyous walk through a forest with two people (or more) who feel like old friends; just their presence makes you happy. Hidden Lands is the ultimate vacation for your ears. And the best part is: these woods don’t have any poison ivy.

Hidden Lands was released today and can be ordered directly from Two Syllable Records. Two record release shows to kick off the band’s upcoming tour are planned for August 6 (at Hi Dive in Denver, CO) and August 8 (at Art Lab in Ft. Collins, CO).

Be sure to check out Candy Claws’ blog and MySpace page for more details.