Horse Feathers - House With No Name

Genre folk Publisher Kill Rock Stars

Bands in the Portland, OR scene and those of various college towns in the South share a few similarities – soft vocals, delicate use of strings and off-beat instruments like the singing saw, and some rustic, old school gothic imagery. While not exactly interchangeable, it is a shame the bands aren’t geographically closer together to collaborate as such an event would no doubt produce some amazing aural treasures. Horse Feathers is one such band. Lead singer and songwriter Justin Ringle is a Portland transplant, and has very much assimilated into the sound many of his comrades up in the Northwest have adopted.

House With No Name is the follow-up to 2006’s Words Are Dead and the band’s first release with the indie stalwart label Kill Rock Stars. Some record labels are known for having a particular sound that fits the “Did you like [Band A]? Then you should try [Bands X, Y, and Z]” model. Kill Rock Stars is one of those labels. And Horse Feathers has a sound that is familiar with its compatriots.

Justin Ringle, the lead singer and head songwriter, has a vocal style not unlike that of Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam. The delivery is soft and comforting with a very relaxing-in-front-of-the-fireplace vibe. The record is definitely for fans of country folk and those who appreciate the backing instrumentation of former label mates the Decemberists, the concept of Jenny Lewis’ first solo album, and the vocal stylings of José González and Liz Durrett. 

Ringle is joined by the multi-instrumentalist team of Heather and Peter Broderick. Peter Broderick first saw Ringle perform in a Portland coffeehouse a few years ago and collaborated with him for the band’s debut record, and brought in his sister Heather for some feminine foil vocals and cello work for the recent release. The Broderick siblings perfectly balance out Ringle’s sound with their own, and give House With No Name a full and satisfied feel to the listener.

Stand out tracks to hear first include “Curs in the Weeds,” “Heathen’s Kiss,” and “This Is What.” Ringle’s songs tell stories in tableau and drip with a unique kind of shy passion that is absolutely wonderful to hear and experience. This is the kind of man who could hypnotize with his voice.

Granted, Ringle’s enunciation isn’t always clear enough to perhaps fully appreciate the lyrics, but the presentation as a whole more than makes up for it. In fact, it adds to the charm of the record. This is an excellent record for a folk purist, classic country fan, or someone recently smitten with the film Once. It will encourage a look into the band members’ past catalogs and anticipation for the next collaboration.