Recently Mrs. Amnesiac and I were at a local bookshop trading in some well perused volumes from our library. While we waited, we heard some very intriguing songs being played over the store's PA system. Five songs of this Pop sweetness transpired before it was imperative that I find out just what group it was that we'd been listening to. Thankfully there was a staff member at the trade in counter who was able to provide me the information desired. The album that so transfixed us was Plum, the 2020 release from Widowspeak, and I haven't been able to stop listening to it for days now. As far as this listener is concerned, it's a real gem of a document from two very talented practitioners of song craft, those being Molly Hampton on guitar/vocals and Robert Earl Thomas on guitar/bass/synth/loops. Throw in the astute drumming of Andy Weaver also. One of the overriding factors that continues to excite Disaster Amnesiac's musical receptors is the spareness of the instrumental presentation and combinations. Plum's tunes are characterized by clean and clear guitar tones that show minimal if any processing in terms of pedals and suchlike. Every note from the guitars sound as if they are coming from the simple approach of the instrument plugged into an amp, not over driven, and played with a refined melodiousness that is not as easy to produce as most music players would ever admit to. On occasion, runs that make for accents do arise within the mix, but they are never distracting and always pretty much perfectly placed. Dig Good Ones for ample evidence of that factor and then realize that it's in effect throughout the album's entirety. Hamilton's vocals are delivered in a low key high alto register, sometimes doubled. They are consistently enchanting, and the lyrics that they intone are always intriguing, insightful and relatable, as in Breadwinner and Sure Thing. In a musical world that shows so much hysterical ranting and hyperbole, Molly's performance is commendable and inspiring for all of its human down to earth-ness. Plum features a fair amount of programmed drums and they are well sequenced and unobtrusive, but that being said it must be pointed out just how lovely the physical drumming of Andy Weaver is. In a performance that matches the clean lines from the guitars, and never walks upon the beautifully delicacy of the singing, Weaver hits subtle and deep pockets of kick/snare/cymbal interaction that frame and move the songs with a not easily attained subtlety that is awesome. It's all over every song. I'll point out Money and Amy and just let the playing do the rest of the talking. Discrete details of the songs aside, they are all gems of electric Pop. Indeed every track of Plum hangs together with the other and I'll go ahead and list another one in Sure Thing. The sounds of Plum sure would have provided some light and comfort during the terrible, depressing year in which it was released yet that being said Disaster Amnesiac is sure glad to have stumble upon it these several seasons later. Its sweetness is irresistible.
