Away From The World has been available since September last year. Why it’s just landing in my lap, I’m not sure. It’s probably not out here yet, but the press info is so non-existent that I couldn’t tell you what the deal is with its release. But I can tell you that it’s a very good album.
The Dave Matthews Band need no introduction, having mixed rock, jazz, folk and a heap of other genres together into eclectic, gooey goodness for over two decades. For this album they have reunited with producer Steve Lillywhite (Under the Table and Dreaming and Crash among other past efforts). The result is something that sounds resolutely warm – the musical equivalent of a summer afternoon in a hammock, nuzzling into somebody and knocking back a beer.
Between loud high points and quieter, more subtle moments, there isn’t really a bad song on the album. It’s powered by a combination of cautious optimism, cinematic atmosphere and gorgeous moments of instrumentation. ‘Broken Things’ and ‘Gaucho’ lead the first half’s bolder moments of eccentric guitar and big, emphatic horns. However, there’s something of a curio highlight in ‘Belly Belly Nice’, a hilariously innuendo-ridden funk piece worthy of Spinal Tap. It’s oddly sentimental about the necessity of intimacy, even as Dave Matthews sings “when the juice is dripping off your chin, one peach is not enough”.
The album is as comfortable in its quieter moments as it is when making jokes about gushing fruit. ‘Mercy’ is beautifully subdued, lyrics enveloped in an aura of gentle positivity. ‘The Riff’ shares similar themes of rescuing doomed relationships but takes on a more nostalgic hue. There’s a mine of veritable lyrical gold scattered across every song but the album’s more intimate moments are where they stand out, free of technical instrumentation and interference.
The tracks are full of hooks, the guitars intricate and the percussion endlessly energetic. ‘Drunken Soldier’ is a daring nine-minute assault of mariachi horns and serene strings courtesy of DMB’s resident violinist, Boyd Tinsley. He’s gifted precious time across several tracks and the Celtic-esque melodies he crafts are serene, joyous breaks from the guitars that punctuate every track.
The variety across the album is fantastic, as all variety is. However, there’s a definitive comfort zone it stays in for the sake of familiarity. The Dave Matthews Band are masters of their craft and after all this time they should be. Away From The World is a fantastic album – probably one of 2012’s best – and to listen to it is nothing short of an absolute pleasure. Provided you can find out when it’s out.
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