Skittish - Savannah Sessions
SKITTISH DROPS ALLURING ‘SAVANNAH SESSIONS’
Minnesota’s Skittish is the musical offspring of Jeff Noller, whose latest album is entitled Savannah Sessions – a collection of bedroom folk-rock songs.
Skittish
Noller writes and records unaccompanied. Still, a vast array of talented musicians has participated in Skittish’s line-up since its founding in 2007.
Noller shares, “The artists on past Skittish records have made me sound way better than I actually am. I don’t know where I’d be without them making me look good.”
Spectra Records signed Skittish in 2013, leading to constant touring, which, in turn, resulted in Skittish becoming a must-see band. In 2018, Noller decided to take a break from the relentless touring, attending graduate school in Savannah to study film sound.
According to Noller, “Dive bars were replaced with classrooms, and my days started at 8 am. Yeah, it was a bit of an adjustment.”
Naturally, he kept writing music, spending time in the school’s studio recording new songs. “I lived in a small apartment with thin walls, so I had been writing soft little acoustic songs I could whisper-sing to myself instead of doing homework,” says Noller.
These new ‘apartment-songs’ form the basis of Savannah Sessions, which features the talents of:
Brianna Tagg: Vocals on “Hello Deadly.”
Rachel Boissevain: Backup Vocals on ‘The Hole’ and “Car Crash Companion.”
I love the violin on this track, oozing viscous melancholic aromas.
Juliana Henao Mesa: Backup Vocals on “The Hole” and ‘Car Crash Companion’
Oleg Terentiev: Drums on “Car Crash Companion” and “Hello Deadly.”
Eric Holmes: Fiddle on “Before the Devil knows.”
Chris Lahn: Drums and Whistle on “Blue Daisies,” Horn arrangement on “Hello Deadly,” Piano on “Parallel Life.”
Jeff Noller: Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Piano, Ebow.
Encompassing 10-tracks, the album starts off with “Intro (Vert),” a mellow, appealing folk-rock tune conjuring up memories of Paul Simon merged with Dan Fogelberg, backed by radiantly glorious harmonies.
Speaking subjectively, highlights include “The Hole,” whose lyrics deduce that self-interest lacks viability and in the end is empty. It’s a driving, gleaming tune, rolling out on layers of vibrant colors. “Before the Devil Knows” travels on dark, swampy colors trembling with platinum-colored tension. I love the violin on this track, oozing viscous melancholic aromas.
“Savannah,” a beautifully lingering song, is reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel – low-slung and silky, while “Parallel Life” reminds one of an early Beatles song, blending gentle shimmering colors with velvety vocals. “Blue Daisies” changes the sonic direction, delivering dark, dirty rock tones flowing into creamy melodic waves of sound.
With Savannah Sessions, Skittish produces a plush, opulent chain of exquisite songs, crowned by marvelous harmonies and vocals.
