Dave Schramm, un membro fondatore degli
Yo La Tengo che figura sul loro primo album,
si fece poi un nome come chitarrista country all'antica con il combo
country-rock degli Schramms (che comprendevano anche il batterista degli
Human Switchboard, Ron Metz).
Se Walk To Delphi (Okra, 1990) fu un'esibizione del virtuosismo del
gruppo, Schramm comincio` a sviluppare un'autentica voce di cantautore con
Rock Paper Scissors Dynamite (Okra, 1992), sul quale spiccano due delle
sue gemme liriche:
Talking To Me Poor e Her Darkness.
Little Apocalypse (Easi Side Digital, 1994) segna purtroppo un ritorno
al formato country-rock format dell'album di debutto (banche' almeno
Heart Not Within e
A Woman's Name sfiorino una modesta grandeur).
Schramm poi lascio` il gruppo per lanciare la sua carriera solista.
Folk Und Die Folgen (Return To Sender, 1994) lo affermo` nei panni
di scrittore e interprete, capace di una quieta disperazione alla
Leonard Cohen e dotato di un talento magico per gli arrangiamenti spartani.
Ancor piu` semplice e` il sound di Hammer And Nails (Catamount, 1999),
nonostante il suo miglior strumentale di sempre, Lambet Lullaby.
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Dave Schramm, an original member of
Yo La Tengo who is featured on their first album,
made a name as an old-fashioned country guitarist with the
country-rock combo Schramms (which also included
Human Switchboard's drummer Ron Metz).
While Walk To Delphi (Okra, 1990) was a showcase for the group's
dexterity, Schramm started developing the voice of a songwriter with
Rock Paper Scissors Dynamite (Okra, 1992), that boasts two of his
lyrical gems:
Talking To Me Poor and Her Darkness.
Unfortunately,
Little Apocalypse (Easi Side Digital, 1994) marks a return to the
country-rock format of the debut album (although at least
Heart Not Within and
A Woman's Name achieve a modest grandeur).
In the meantime, Schramm had helped Virginia-born singer songwriter
Kate Jacobs record her literate country albums
The Calm Comes After (Small Pond, 1992) and
What About Regret (Bar None, 1995), the latter containing the single
A Sister.
Schramm then left the band to start his solo career.
Folk Und Die Folgen (Return To Sender, 1994) established as a major
writer and interpreter, capable of Leonard Cohen's quiet desperation and
magically skilled at spare arrangements.
Even simpler is the sound of Hammer And Nails (Catamount, 1999),
despite his best instrumental ever, Lambet Lullaby.
The Schramms' evocative roots-rock pivots on three pillars: the leader's
rhythm and blues vocals, his dissonant guitar licks and the majestic work of
Andrew Harris on accordion and keyboards.
Torn In Two and
Mary Come Lately, the standout tracks of
100 Questions (Innerstate, 2000), sound like a cross between
Dream Syndicate and
Palace Brothers.
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