Creep On Creepin' On

iTunes Review

The fourth full-length by Canadian trio Timber Timbre wades through a murky swamp of gothic folk, with occasional nods to ‘50s doo-wop and horror movies (sometimes, as on the waltzing “Woman,” those genres meet up). Creep On is not as minimalist as 2009’s self-titled release, and not as full of hillbilly warp as earlier records. There is more traditional song hook-age here, memorable tunes imbued with the rich, evocative storytelling style of the two Nicks (Lowe and Cave, with “Bad Ritual” and “Creep On Creepin’ On” strongly evoking the latter). Spare and brooding numbers — like “Lonesome Hunter” and  “Black Water” — feel surprisingly multi-dimensional with their quivering strings and sinister piano strikes. Instrumentals, such as album closer “Souvenirs,” are impressive pieces of new music expressionism, showing the true depths of main man Taylor Kirk’s talent pool. The underplayed drama of Autoharp and strings along with samplers and loops (and the handiwork of guest saxophonist extraordinaire Colin Stetson, who takes the potent “Do I Have Power” to a whole new place) work beautifully with Kirk’s coal-dust voice in creating a deeply alluring aural tapestry.