Bart Moore got his start back in the ’80s in California when he played in a number of different bands. Moore eventually moved to Michigan where he established himself by playing shows. More recently he released Graveyards Wind & War.
On this release Moore tackles a wide range of topics from the Civil War to Chris Cornell. The music is acoustic and leans into folk but there is also an off-kilter style to these songs. Up first is “The Third Day” which begins with a slick sounding guitar pattern and vocals. The lead vocal sounds great but also through the use of vocal harmonies was well done. I loved how the fiddle provided energy to the song. The technical playing here is very impressive. I liked the dynamic this song had and I thought it was a great opener.
“I Will Go Where The Wind Blows” has more of a ’70s folk sound to my ears. The instrumentation, especially the wood flute, reminded me of the artist Donovan. In my mind’s eye I was imagining this song being played in a desert on a starry-filled night.
Up next is “The Fly in the Ointment” which is a little more loose and playful. It has a similar quality to a number of songs by Tom Waits which has a European traveling circus type quality. This is a very danceable song that felt timeless. It goes by fast but is an arguable highlight.
“Graveyard” is atmospheric and airy. The accompaniment felt cinematic and the vocal cadence almost played out nursery rhymes on the verse. It does change up and Moore displays how his vocals can steer the emotional resonance in different directions. It’s a very cool song.
“Fire in the Rain” was exceptional. It starts with acoustic guitar chords and vocals but blossoms into something more epic. There’s another vocalist that shows up, very well done percussion and an additional guitar which gives the song a spaghetti western feel. I loved how haunting the vocals felt at points. This was one of the highlights in my opinion.
“Marcelena” is one of the more somber and pensive songs on the album. The strings cry at points and work well with picking patterns from the acoustic. That being said, some of the sections sound quite cinematic and epic.
“Oak Street – Rush Hour” sounds like it’s clearly being played on a twelve string guitar. It’s more of an interlude considering the short time length but still quite engaging. “Back to the Bad Old Days” has more of this Pink Floyd quality. The music felt cerebral and cosmic. Similar to some of the other songs the strings make this song sound huge and the vocal harmonies assist with that as well.
“Pterodactyl (Color Wild the Sky)” is the closer and also a fun one. The vocals are some of my favorites here but I also loved the walking jazzy bass line on this song. It felt like a good way to close the album.
Moore has a unique approach to music. The lyrics are novel and the music contains a range of emotion. There’s a lot to appreciate here. Take a listen.
