A Vintage Burden

stunning new album from charalambides. christina carter (who along with ex-partner tom now forms the core duo of charalmbides) may well turn out to be 2006's biggest avant-folk star, following in the footsteps of devendra banhart and joanna newsom. this is an incredibly beautiful record bringing to mind a collaboration between vashti bunyan and six organs of admittance. this album is seriously melodic and ethereal, a total departure from their last album of jarring haunted improv, cosmic being the word! having exorcized some demons through the release of their last album 'joy shapes', here they have recorded a more melodic song cycle, reminiscent of their earlier albums 'union' and 'market square'. of particular note is the inspiring guitar work tom displays on the 18 minute instrumental 'black bed blues'. with 'a vintage burden', charalambides have delivered their most cosmic and beautiful album to date. the godparents of the whole freak-folk, free-folk, new weird america, whatever scene, charalambides were wandering alone in that arid wilderness when they started recording and releasing their music via cassette in the early 90s. charalambides is where it all started, and where it continues to innovate and evolve.