Notes from Vinegar Hill

Albumbeschreibung

Here’s one positive for 2020, a.k.a. the Year of Covid: albums that were recorded during lockdown in Spring are now being released in Autumn’s lockdown. Such is the case for Notes From Vinegar Hill by Herman Dune (the umlaut on “Düne” was dropped when founding member David Ivar took over). After listening to a lot of American music, Ivar ended up moving to Los Angeles in 2015. This album was recorded at home in the small neighbourhood of Vinegar Hill in San Pedro where the singer performs regularly. Playing almost all the instruments found here, Ivar has confined himself to a musical space-time which ranges from sixties folk-rock to Beck’s nineties tinkering folk-rap and straight up country. You can hear pedal-steel, female choirs, a duet with singer Caitlin Rose, convincing imitations of Bob Dylan and Adam Green, and, if you listen carefully, even a purring cat. David Ivar purrs a lot himself – he obviously enjoys playing and singing. He’s comfortable in his rustic cosy world with all its musical ghosts. A good album to listen to in the car, even if you can’t leave the car park. © Stéphane Deschamps/Qobuz