Langhorne Slim started out as a solo act before he worked his way up to a pair of accompanists, but it would seem he's gotten over the whole notion of minimal accompaniment on his third full-length album, Be Set Free. Produced by Chris Funk of the Decemberists, Be Set Free features Langhorne and his usual sidekicks Jeff Ratner on bass and Malachi DeLorenzo on drums, but there's also a wealth of guest musicians, most notably Sam Kassirer on a variety of keyboards, Funk taking on a handful of fretted instruments, and a small battalion of backing vocalists, horn players, and string musicians. Be Set Free sounds significantly more polished than Langhorne's previous studio sessions, with the arrangements and additional accompanists bringing a range of dynamics to the melodies that wasn't quite there before (certainly not on this scale), but even though this album sounds like Cinemascope compared to the more modest framings of Langhorne's previous LPs, the additional colors and patterns have been artfully applied and they serve to add to the tenor of his tunes rather than distracting from them; if this album was conceived on a (relatively) grand scale, it's never overdone. For all the imagination of the arrangements and production, Be Set Free is still clearly designed to honor Langhorne's songwriting, and the charm and passionate honesty of his lyrics are still at the root of these performances, with the arrangements reinforcing the passion of his vocals instead of drowning them out. (Langhorne also sounds more expert and sure of himself as a vocalist than ever before.) Be Set Free isn't a game-changing album so much as it confirms that Langhorne Slim's talent can work within a wider framework than he's used in the past and still honor his gifts, and it's an impressive, pleasurable work.
Folksy guitarman Langhorne Slim takes his jam band to new places with Be Set Free, the latest installment in the prolific band's menagerie of uplifting tunes. Being introduced to the band initially in the live setting set me up to expect a strong translation. I'm happy to say the colorful personalities of his band mates shine through the lush production and smile-inducing moments abound. The re...
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Langhorne Slim is another in a great lineup of fall releases that includes American music from Port O’Brien, The Avett Brothers and Lucero. Be Set Free was released on September 29th and the single “I Love You, But Goodbye” was offered a month earlier and proved to be a good sample for what the album [...]
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Folksy guitarman Langhorne Slim takes his jam band to new places with Be Set Free, the latest installment in the prolific band's menagerie of uplifting tunes. Being introduced to the band initially in the live setting set me up to expect a strong translation. I'm happy to say the colorful personalities of his band mates shine through the lush production and smile-inducing moments abound. The re...
More >
Folksy guitarman Langhorne Slim takes his jam band to new places with Be Set Free, the latest installment in the prolific band's menagerie of uplifting tunes. Being introduced to the band initially in the live setting set me up to expect a strong translation. I'm happy to say the colorful personalities of his band mates shine through the lush production and smile-inducing moments abound. The re...
More >
Langhorne Slim’s forthcoming release, ‘Be Set Free’ will be out on Kemado Records in the USA on Sept 29.Audio: “I Love You, But Goodbye”10/15 - Bell House - Brooklyn, NY10/17 - TT The Bears - Cambridge, MA10/21 - Grog Shop - Cleveland, OH10/22 - Blind Pig - Ann Arbor, MI10/24 - High Noon Saloon - [...]
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Langhorne Slim is another in a great lineup of fall releases that includes American music from Port O’Brien, The Avett Brothers and Lucero. Be Set Free was released on September 29th and the single “I Love You, But Goodbye” was offered a month earlier and proved to be a good sample for what the album [...]
More >
Kemado Records, the smallish indie record label based in NYC, is gearing up to open its very own record store in Brooklyn, called Co-Op 87. Kemado, along with its imprint Mexican Summer, decided to launch Co-Op 87 right smack in the middle of CMJ week, what with the entire music industry being in town to consume various alcoholic beverages and peep through the watering holes' windows hoping to ...
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Langhorne Slim just released a track from his upcoming release, Be Set Free. The song is “I Love You But Goodbye” and the album will be released on September 29th via Kemado Records. If the song is representative of the rest of the album, we’re in for something special.Langhorne Slim – I Love You But [...]
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Somewhere between country and orchestral lies Langhorne Slim.
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I've been reading some mixed reviews of Langhorne Slim's new album Be Set Free. I thought it would be a good chance to let our readers decide for themselves with a taste. Grab this download and let me know what you think:"I Love You, But Goodbye"- MP3Langhorne Slim's websiteLanghorne Slim's Myspace
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 "Be Set Free")
