Tindersticks

At a cursory glance, “Falling Down A Mountain,” the eighth LP from British group Tindersticks, seems to embody the helplessness its title evokes. Track titles like “Piano Music,” “Harmony Around My Table” and “Peanuts” imply an almost diminutive cuteness; frontman Stuart Staples’ baritone warblings often tremble with a mix of emotion and uncertainty, as if he’s on the verge of tears but isn’t sure why; and the minimalistic piano melodies often hesitate just enough to be charmingly off-beat. Yet, after a thorough listening, Tindersticks prove to be fully in control. “Falling Down A Mountain” is a delightful album, impressive in its eclecticism, accessibility, and innovation.

“Falling Down A Mountain” opens with the title track, immediately introducing the multi-layered, complex arrangements which characterize the album’s best songs. Subversive bass lines, syncopated drum beats and a tambourine lay down a solid foundation upon which wild trumpet riffs and trippy synths soon take over, creating an alternately jazzy, new-age feel. Stuart Staples’ oft-commanding vocals seem to politely refrain from overpowering the melodies, neatly weaving themselves into intricate tapestry of disparate sounds. An engaging prelude to the rest of the album, the title track exemplifies what makes the best songs on the record successful: the many layers of Tindersticks’ instrumental elements merge into a unified whole which eludes any all-purpose labels.

Several other pieces, such as “She Rode Me Down,” follow in the title track’s motley footsteps. Sharp winds and crashes of a thunderstorm give way to flamenco guitar strumming and maracas, mixing with the quirky tinkle of a glockenspiel, hand claps and a spirited jazz flute. The somber growling of a cello intimates the lyrics Staples croons (“She rode me like a storm / Like a soaking brooding storm”), while the clear, brassy peals of the horn section end the track on a vigorous note. It’s easy to ignore the significant compositional skill required for such a seamless blend of disparate parts, but a careful listening reveals the group’s subtle musical craftsmanship.

While most of the album is immediately likeable, the few songs which do fall flat tumble headfirst. Track two, “Keep You Beautiful,” is a disappointing departure from the more audacious tracks. The weak drum beats and timid, painfully repetitive guitar loops invoke a stupor perhaps appropriate to some hazy, dim-lit lounge, but they fail to sustain the energy of the opener. “Keep You Beautiful” also lacks the diversity of the album’s better tracks; while a vibraphone and triangle rescue it from complete monotony, the song pales in comparison to the assortment of musical morsels available elsewhere on the album.

“Peanuts,” the fourth track, vacillates between minimalism and complexity, epitomizing how “Falling Down A Mountain” fares best when Tindersticks employ more, rather than fewer, of the elements at their disposal. Female vocals provide a pleasing contrast with Staples’ unmistakable baritone, as do the piano and loose, bluesy guitar, but the bare aesthetic risks alienating fans of the band’s multi-instrumentalist approach. Thankfully, synths, strings and horns come to the rescue halfway through, filling out the song’s meager build and preventing it from going the tedious way of “Keep You Beautiful.”

Despite such somewhat flawed experiments, “Falling Down A Mountain” contains many songs that will appease long-time fans. The notable “Harmony Around My Table” boasts toe-tapping drum beats and a sportive tambourine, providing solid accompaniment to jaunty piano reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian. Vibraphone and hand claps, as well as the background “doo-wops” and “la-la-las,” imbue the song with genuine charm. It doesn’t quite match the innovation of the more experimental tracks, but it does prove a memorable addition to Tindersticks’ vast repertoire.

“Falling Down A Mountain” consolidates Tindersticks’ rightful place as one of the most talented groups in British indie music. Rife with romantic orchestrations, intrepid percussion, daring experimentation and the quavering lilt of Stuart Staples, the album challenges the band’s status quo while continuing to produce songs that could fit on any of their previous albums. “Falling Down A Mountain” demonstrates one more commendable stage in the band’s evolution, proving that Tindersticks, far from plummeting, have ascended to the peak of musical maturity with only a few stumbles along the way.