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Album Details

• Artist: Mojave 3
• Album: Spoon And Rafter
• Label: 4AD
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2004-01-17

Mojave 3 have always been a funny band for me. If someone asked if I was a fan of the band, I would probably say no and yet every time a new albums hits my desk I find myself listening to it over and over, trying to figure out what Neil Halstead and his crew have been up to. Spoon And Rafter was no different. No hurry to give it a listen but it eventually made it's way into review rotation and when I heard the brilliant opening epic, "Bluebird Of Happiness" I knew that this Mojave 3 may actually turn me into a fan. The track starts out with a fairly mellow sound and builds to a thick sound with Neil almost whispering into my ear "Gotta find a way to get home strong / Gotta find a way back home" and then takes a complete turn with pretty much a totally different song that reminds me more of Grandaddy than Mojave 3. All that in the first 9 minute epic. Not a conventional way to start out but these guys have a lot to say since their Slowdive days and they have found a different way to deliver. "Starlight No 1" is the next track and it is almost a psychedelic track in the vein of Elephant 6 less a little arranging. It is a catchy track, though, with its pedal steel subtle and yet clear. Spoon And Rafter offers up all sorts of surprises but it seems like this is the most complete Mojave 3 album to date. It's always good when someone as talented as Halstead gets away and does his own thing. His mind is fresh for the Mojave 3 projects. I would have like to hear more from the bass player, Rachel, in the form of her lead vocals but this is obviously Halstead's project now and if he's writing the tracks…

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