Driftwood Pines - Crimson (Dusk Moon Records)

The Oakland-based Driftwood Pimes are a duo comprised of IJ Smith and Tony Daquipa. Their sound is deeply rooted in Americana and classic country folk, and they have just released their debut EP, entitled Crimson, earlier this month. Influenced by the likes of Johnny Cash and the Eagles, this instrumental release captures the essence of poetic storytelling from both without the need for words. There’s a distinctly nostalgic feel to the songs, yet they never stray into the dreaded territory of the novelty record and the pair manages to find something fresh and new to say on a well-trodden path.

Crimson functions so well and is so successful partially because the duo understands the power of space and ambience. There is a feeling of comfort to the proceedings, but there is also a slightly uncanny, unsettling quality as well. Like a painting by Edward Hopper or Andrew Wyeth, there is a great deal to be felt in the quiet moments. These four instrumentals are deceptively quaint, when in reality this nostalgic, somewhat melancholy quality latches itself onto your brain and demands repeated listens. There are even the strange inclusion of synths on tracks like “Dusty Moon” which further reinforce the idea that all is not quite what it seems here.

This EP may seem on the surface to have a lot in common with the folk genre, but the listener quickly realizes there really is nothing else exactly like it. Crimson is a fascinating, enthralling experience that reveals new mysteries with every play.