c a s s a v e t e s

Claude Debussey once said, “Music is the space between the notes.” On Faja Blues, the second full-length from Atlanta’s Cassavetes, you can hear exactly what he meant. Honest and unassuming, Faja Blues, with its’ Wes Anderson-like attention to detail, illustrates once again that the balance between loose and meticulous is indeed the epitome of cool. Robbie Horlick, songwriter and voice of Cassavetes, with a lineup of amazing Atlanta musicians (inc. members of Athens post-rock masters Maserati and Atlanta stoner metal upstarts Wizard Smoke), recorded Faja Blues at the Living Room, Atlanta’s infamous analog studio, and it has clearly bene ted from the historic surroundings that proved developmentally crucial to success for area favorites like The Black Lips, Mastodon, Coathangers, and The Selmanaires. Though, as is true of most bands from Atlanta, Cassavetes don’t sound anything like their peers. Continuing on the trajectory started in 2006 on Cassavetes’ fi rst LP Funny Story (Headphone Treats), Cassavetes’ Faja Blues, released on Goodnight Records, with its’ unique brand of Psychedelic Americana – think: Barrett meets the Boss, Costello meets Kraut – is evolved yet refreshingly simple. And that’s due in no small part to Horlick’s vocal style and lyrical directness. Instead of hiding behind layers of bad poetry and double entendre, Horlick speaks plainly – but about odd things (“Are your feet made of re, and your legs made of wood?”). The emotional bravery of the lyrics is enunciated by Horlick’s singing style, which could be described as bumbling and fractured, but courageous enough to tackle unpleasant personal truths. He’s like a character in a John Cassavetes film– direct, but not easily understood. Cocooned in the cinematic sweep of the band’s music, which is gorgeously produced, tightly played, and arranged with a surprising wit, the result is an album that sounds fresh, original, and experimental without even trying.