By Deuce

Guitars talk. Anybody even remotely familiar with the plaintive potency of this strenuously stringed instrument knows this basic fact of life. They can speak, converse, take over rooms and entire afternoons and, on Postcards From Lonely Places, the latest album from Two Faces West, even whole sunrises.

Such is the case on “Mountain Sunrise”, an all acoustic number that functions as a dialogue between an acoustic guitar (although forsooth, there may very well be more than one) and a charming bass. The evocative tones of the former, echoed, bandied about, and in some parts regurgitated by the latter, speak as clearly as any slow unfurling of fire and spectacle splaying over the mountains.

The progression of the tune, which warms in texture and volume as it spans through its approximately two minutes of air time, is remarkable, organic, and indicative of the fact that the musicianship on this album is exceedingly hard to come by.

Such musicianship, of course, extends beyond just that of the acoustic guitar and the aforesaid bass. Somehow, someway, this trio (consisting of Kurt Ashmore, Mick Knudsen, and Vince Carmellini) bring in the funk horns on the leadoff track, “Ain’t Got a Clue”, a vivacious affair in which almost everyone hits it out the park. Notwithstanding the punctuations of the horns, Carmellini is working wonders on a slap bass, or likely simply slapping his bass around the right way.

Plus, Ashmore (who’s credited with the sax on the project) is conjuring images of something close to a wah wah on the guitar this time out. It’s the perfect way to start an album, showcases the down home rustic appeal of the talent, and arguably serves as a high point—until that “Mountain Sunrise” comes in.

“Vegas at 3am” gives these tunes a run for their money, though. Carmellini selects an effervescent bass line, Ashmore gets the electric guitars chopping game before hitting the mic (he’s the lead vocalist), and Knudsen tries to steal the show with an off-again, on-again drum pattern that showcases the best of his pals’ efforts.

It just goes to show these three can do just about anything they put their mind to…on this release, for certain.