Trakwerx 
Smoldering Ashes : Nervous Constellations (US,2006)***'
I am submitted to a lot of e-mail related newsletters informing me of the latest releases everywhere. A group presentation that appeared as such in my mailbox was presenting the release from the Smoldering Ashes, with a rather psychedelic cover. To my surprise (in a sort of listing I didn’t expect to find much interesting) their sound attracted me rather quickly, and also their label seems to be interesting (of which the label band 17 Pygmies is reviewed here as well, a band in which Jeff Brenneman & Dirk Doucette are currently also members of, so you can say it is all a family). Their album was released in a hand stitched tissue cover protected in plastic with a printed sticker on it, and with a separate included sheet for the lyrics printed small in handwriting.
Their sound is that of a saddened psych-folk-pop band with a certain light gothic flavour through the use of just some late 80s keyboards or background keyboards (with the sounds of bells and such) with cello and such. The songs can have a certain dark sadness, and still also similarly a light sweetness over it by the singing and soft or sparse percussion and rather dreamy arrangements. Elsewhere, and perhaps even most often, the sweetness takes over (the lead voice makes these qualities strong, with its velvet character), and the band swings (occasionally partly chamber-music like) in a slow humming rhythm with it, or confirms a dreamy atmosphere, or something in between. Just when they needed they rock, with a charming staying home-feeling psych touch. Attractive and warm music.
