Coming as the second in a three-release series from The Book of Knots, a conglomeration of seasoned avant-garde veterans Matthias Bossi (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Skeleton Key), Joel Hamilton (Battle of Mice), Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants), and Carla Kihlstedt (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Tin Hat Trio), Traineater acts as a tribute to the American rust belt and the mining and steel cities laid within that have been neglected since the Industrial Revolution.
The foursome specializes in alternating between neck-snapping doom rock and semi-abstract, interwoven backdrops of clean-channel guitar, bass, violin, saxophone, and trumpet that fluctuate between discordance and beauty. There is nary a song without narration of a character living in one of these affected areas, commonly incorporating a spate of accomplished guest stars such as Tom Waits, Mike Watt, and Jon Langford.
The collaboration with Waits, a tune titled “Pray” evocative of an inquisitive preacher and a disconsolate, makeshift congregation, is the disc’s catchiest moment. Over a melancholy tuba, semi-squealing trumpet, and string-bending guitar, Waits asks what his compadres will do when the beans, cow, machine, and dream are all gone. “Pray now,” his audience responds.
Kihlstedt’s vocals aren’t used quite enough, but they’re thankfully featured in “Salinas,” a dissonant mixture of strings and high-pitched guitar riffage balanced by the melodic moments of her voice and violin, as well as the somber, accordion-centered sounds of “Where’d Mom Go?” Though a few extra sludge riffs would be appreciated, Traineater manages to strike a satisfactory balance in style.
– Scott Morrow
The Book of Knots (Anti- Records)