Between the Pine – Friends, Foes, Kith and Kin

Creeping, slow-burning and haunting are the buzz-clichés that spring to mind when listening to Friends, Foes, Kith and Kin. As hackneyed as they are, they’re descriptions I find myself compelled to use. This sophomore release for Rhode Island-based James Diotte, aka Between the Pine, is a carefully crafted record, an American indie epic converging with gentle, traditional British folk. Nothing stands out, nNothing catches, or hooks into your psyche. But, as the closing bars of 'The Wall & The Moon' fade to black, it’s easy to find yourself snapping back to reality, having become entranced in the album’s subtle, underlying beauty. There’s an undeniable quality to Between the Pine’s new offering, one that shines through its clever instrumentation, ethereal vocal melodies and droning rhythms. It’s also a very deliberate, held-back collection, with a coy sincerity to its gentle ambience and low tempo. Its highlights come in the unlikely guise of tracks such as 'People We Were Before', a warbling dream of a song with thematic borrowings from the post-rock genre; and in the more immediate, keyboard-driven 'Enjoy Yourself', evoking memories of Radiohead’s more experimental work. But at its weakest, Friends, Foes, Kith and Kin begins to sound a little uninspired and somewhat derivative. Many of its more upbeat passages are reminiscent of The Shins’ more laid back sounds, but without the emotional pull that drives the latter. In fact, in its more generic moments, Friends, Foes, Kith and Kin fails to encourage much of a response at all, and long segments fly by unnoticed, merging together into one perfectly palatable yet ultimately unimportant stretch of music.There’s an apparent self-awareness to the album, one that’s necessary to develop such an effective mood. Its admirable successes rest largely on Diotte’s clear vision and occasional bravery. But, ultimately, it’s a record that struggles to engage on any meaningful level. An album with soul, unquestionably; it’s just a shame it lacks the charm to go with it. 71%Friends, Foes, Kith and Kin is out now on Sad MusicBetween The Pine on Myspace