When The Wind Forgets Your Name

Doug Martsch formed Built to Spill in 1992, and its hard to believe that 30 years later the band still sounds as raw and vital as ever. Their first album for Sub Pop, 2022s When the Wind Forgets Your Name, is filled with the kind of raggedly glorious indie rock theyve been reliably producing since the very start, a loose and inviting, deeply emotional approach bolstered by Martschs overdriven guitars, warped melancholy melodies, and keening, heart-tuggingly honest vocals. Working with a Brazilian rhythm section of Le Almeida and Joao Casaes of the band Orua, Martsch delivers the expected Built to Spill goods with a little extra verve and attention to sonic detail. Keyboard overdubs, darkly psychedelic layers of sound, little pockets of dub, and the occasional bit of tambourine help give a batch of hooky, thoughtful, and weirdly uplifting songs an extra boost. It may be a small alteration, but for a band whose style is so established, its almost shocking at times. Almeida and Casaes prove to be one of the more flexible and adventurous backing bands Martsch has played with; their nimbly supportive backing seems to have inspired him to take the group into new areas. A song like "Elements" is a good example of the subtle shift thats taken place. The rolling drum fills and wandering bass leave Martsch free to add organ solos, sound effects, dub echo, and submerged vocals until he hits on an expanded version of the Built to Spill sound that is true to its roots but exploring new ground. Its a dynamic that plays out across the entire album and informs most of the songs. Martsch pairs this expanded musical approach with a particularly good batch of melodies and lyrics. He may not be the awkward soul reaching for love and security he was in the early days; now hes more of a seasoned traveler with some wisdom to impart, and that style is a natural fit. He can come across like a friend giving some good advice ("Fools Gold"), a drinking buddy whos ready to delve into some philosophical truths ("Rocksteady"), or the thoughtful rocker hes always been ("Comes a Day"), and it all sounds right. Martsch has evolved into a survivor; while others may have flashed early and burned out, hes kept plugging away, and with When the Wind Forgets Your Name he and Built to Spill have delivered a late-career stunner that easily equals their best work. ~ Tim Sendra

憧れだったというサブ・ポップからのリリースとなる9作目。バンドの中心メンバー、ダグ・マーシュがブラジルのサイケデリック・バンド、オルアンのメンバーとレコーディングしたという話題はさておき、オルタナとルーツ・ロックの折衷を美しいメロディーと共に奏でたビルト・トゥ・スピル節は、結成から30年を経て、さらに円熟。日本では知る人ぞ知る存在だが、ダイナソーJrとペイヴメントが好きならぜひ!
bounce (C)山口智男