Outside

The unhinged gypsy-punk energy of O’Death’s first two releases is replaced by a deeper, more thoughtful intensity on Outside. Here they stay closer to their bluegrass and old timey musical influences, tapping into the feel of raw American folk while interpreting it with an adventurous flair. The quintet’s instrumentation includes banjo, fiddle, ukulele, bass, guitar, cello, and the distinctive warbled vocals of Greg Jamie, and their careful arrangements play up the tension and eeriness in the music. The dark and creepy imagery presented in the lyrics is supported by strange, skittering rhythms, odd pots-and-pans percussion, and taut banjo rolls. The album is long on atmosphere and drama with songs that are sparse and contemplative (“Bugs,” “Don’t Come Back”), dirge-like (“Alamar,” “The Lake Departed”), dynamic and moody (“Look At the Sun,” “Back of the Garden”), and stark and edgy (“Ourselves,” “Howling Through”). In reigning in some of their more frenzied impulses O’Death has created a focused and cohesive album that reflects a sound all their own.