The Rosebuds
Sand+Silence (Western Vinyl)If Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp’s fifth long-player, 2011’s Loud Planes Fly Low, charted the death of a marriage – the North Carolina couple divorced in 2009 – its follow-up signals the birth of separate-but-equal lives. Co-produced by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Sand+Silence is all forward progress, from the “we can both feel alive” sentiment of the title track to the pop portent of “Mine Mine Mine,” which sounds like Howard staking a claim. In fact, Crisp isn’t much of a presence here, showing up primarily in a supporting vocal role while Howard, Vernon, and other musicians take the wheel. Closer “Tiny Bones” finds Howard singing outdoors, cricket song providing a sonic bed for the jangling acoustic piano, banjo, and guitar. As the song ends, the sound of soft rain promises renewal, but who’s left to forge new ground? (11:30am, Miller Lite stage)
This article appears in October 3 • 2014.