More Animals of the Arctic: An Appendix of Whaling Terms

Printed entirely on an 1897 C&P letterpress, the artwork for An Appendix of Whaling Terms is absolutely gorgeous, and possibly misleading. I expected rustic strumming, approximate-twang, and colorful lyrics about getting drunk alone in a cabin. But More Animals of the Arctic, the solo project of the Odawas’ Michael Tapscott, is a much more quirky, psychedelic affair. And it’s got enough vocal reverb to make even Jim James seasick. “Peacock Dream” is a stately, piano-based ballad, “Tom’s Death” a Neil Young-style waltz. Tapscott’s voice has enough character to be pushed further up in the hazy mix, but it still sounds just fine removed and ghostly on these hymns of outsider Americana.