Heaven On the Faultline

Alex Bleeker quietly, steadily worked on solo music of his own in tandem with the earliest days of his acclaimed indie band Real Estate, trickling out albums and EPs that bent a little more toward the stoney, country-fried side of things than the reliably poppy material Real Estate was known for. After releasing several strong albums with a rotating cast of characters under the banner Alex Bleeker and the Freaks, Heaven on the Faultline is Bleekers first solo outing under his own name, and its 13 songs represent the different avenues of his specific musical identity. Tracks like the straightforwardly hooky La La La and several wistful instrumentals (A/B Ripoff, Swang) tap into the jangly guitar-based indie rock thats central to Bleekers DNA, evoking at turns both the solitude of Felt and the summery warmth of Yo La Tengo. These moments pivot quickly to tunes that showcase Bleekers affinity for jam bands, in particular the spindly guitar work of the Grateful Deads early studio output. Patient and even-keeled songs like D Plus and Reach for My Brain find a nexus point between indie rock songwriting and the psychedelic influence of the Dead, where Mashed Potatoes takes a far more direct roots rock approach, with a shuffling country blues structure and dusty production in line with the subdued character of American Beauty. Bleekers well-established modes of jangly pop and rustic, psychedelic Americana are joined by experiments with less familiar styles. Album closer Lonesome Call finds Bleeker alone with the guitar delivering a traditional high-plains cowboy tune, while the harsh and dubby Heavy Tupper is the polar opposite, with distorted guitars and delay-swaddled vocals that nod to Suicide. The beautiful Parking Lot is another step slightly outside of the usual for Bleeker. With choruses lifted by the harmonies of vocalist Kacey Johansing, the song has a melancholic, gliding melody and a reflective tone that make for one of the albums most mature and emotionally resonant pieces. Even when the songs wander stylistically, Bleekers friendly and thoughtful songwriting personality ties Heaven on the Faultline together. The album elevates an already solid solo catalog with some of Bleekers most varied and memorable songs to date, bringing out more of the disarming sweetness and hazy beauty thats been the core of his music since the start. ~ Fred Thomas