Based in Brighton England, These Tall Trees launch their musical career with a debut album that reflects some psychedelic leanings and a bright, bucolic sound. It accomplishes quite a bit for a first attempt, from the eerie instrumental “Intro 9” that opens this set, to the euphoric, up-tempo entries that populate the overall effort. Comprised of singer Catherine Cox, songwriter-guitarist Jon Wood and percussionist Tom Andrews, the band recorded And All Things In-Between in a home studio utilizing older equipment of a vintage era, with only a scant 16 tracks available over the 18 month period it took to complete. Taking their old school methodology one step further, they limited the number of songs to 10, as if to emulate a vinyl album’s 20 minutes per side.
Stylistically, the band veers towards a psych-lite sound, mostly upbeat and effervescent, with Cox’s helium-filled vocals more or less setting the tone. That’s especially evident on tracks like “It Doesn’t Have to Be That Way”, “I Just Need a Little More Time” and “So We Can Shine”, the latter of which boasts a title that seems to sum up the musical mood overall. There’s little break in this sunny spell, but the sophisticated sound belies the band’s novice standing.
Indeed, their ambition is obvious, not only in the sweeping set-ups, but in the otherwise unobtrusive elements that occasionally slip in to the mix. For example, “Where Time Has Yet to Go” offers all the mystery its name suggests, with a strange, dispassionate voice announcing, “These are the sounds of the days that are passed,” and then reappearing throughout the proceedings as the song works its way from its effusive beginnings to its bluesy core. Likewise, the jazzy, free-wheeling sound of “What Made Us Feel This Way” affirms their looser, limber instincts, indicating a desire to keep their options open.
Of course, when a band opts for a so-called progressive approach, those options are open regardless. While Cox’s vocals help brand them as a folk/psych combo, there’s enough variation in that swirling sound to allow them to veer in different directions. The dual definitions of psych and folk offer that dichotomy anyway, and open the door to future variation within that very wide expanse. For now anyway, These Tall Trees seem willing to branch out while also combining all their inclinations under an overall umbrella.
On closer listen, And All Things In-Between seems surprisingly accessible, even despite the band’s broader strokes. “See-Saw” and “Admit One” boast alluring melodies, the former via an alluring Brazilian-sounding sway, the latter with an easy glide that would find a perfect fit on a soft rock, adult-oriented radio format. Nevertheless, their eclectic approach ensures the fact they’ll likely always favor some sort of experimentation, which, in turn, will allow them to surprise their audiences and venture into the unexpected. As a result, it’s a good bet that These Tall Trees will always strive to reach even higher heights.