Voices in a Rented Room

Voices in a Rented Room

New Bums are two singer/songwriter/guitarists, Donovan Quinn of The Skygreen Leopards and Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance. On their debut album, Voices in a Rented Room, the duo sound like they’re chasing many rock ’n’ roll ghosts, from the obvious T. Rex vibe of “Your B*****it” to the more obscure Jacobites-like feel of “Your Girlfriend Might Be a Cop.” Slide guitars lurk in the background while the two singers sound conflicted over whether unison or harmony voice choices should be taken. As with freak-folk’s Devendra Banhart (whom they resemble on “It’s the Way”) or Will Oldham (a.k.a. Bonnie “Prince” Billy, whom they evoke in “Welcome to the Navy”), imprecision is often key. The more spontaneous a track sounds, the more they like it. Any rehearsed musician can play their parts as predicted, but capturing a surprise—a serendipitous moment that no one can script—requires throwing convention and caution to the wind. This modern-day “field recording” is loaded with unexpected and unconventional moments to draw you in.

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