An Absolute Gem
"The Problem of Knowledge" makes you remember why alt-country is the saving grace of Woody Guthrie's ghost and Bob Dylan's mythology: nothing is being sold or bought when you listen to this music - but a very delicate truth is exposed quite beautifully. In the same way that Guthrie and Dylan's folk recordings are flawed but resoundingly human, Holton's Opulent Oog has created an absolute gem, and it cost lest than £100 to record and produce. Holysmokes, great!
Expositions are slow, stories are told poetically, everything is minimalist and you cannot help but be captivated by this record. As soon as you hear Holton's voice on album opener "tab" you will understand exactly what I mean (especially the Dylan reference). Add to that the gentle violin melody of "tab", and suddenly HOO is catching the tender part of you that you doubted anyone could get at through the country medium.
There is little else to say. The lyrics are beautiful, the music is lo-fi and perfect and Holton's Opulent Oog have managed to capture my heart with "The Problem of Knowledge". The album comes out on February 18, and is completely necessary for anyone who likes alt-country. Think Sparklehorse for lyrical abstraction and lo-fi genius, or even early Beirut.