With roughly a year since the beginning of the pandemic, quarantine albums are becoming more popular a concept than ever. The Basin Brothers have doubled down on that trend with two simultaneous releases—Furthest Out and Thinking of You.
Both albums were produced by Thomas Stajcer at New Scotland Yard. The albums flow easily from one to the next, feeling less like two separate projects and more like one cohesive entity.
The band’s self-appointed description of “cosmic honky-tonk” really hits the nail on the head. If you’re starting with Thinking of You, then you’ll immediately notice the dreamy, psychedelic haze of the opening track “Up All Night, Pt 1”. While that’s not the definitive vibe in place on these two albums, it gives a sense of how The Basin Brothers use their sound to create very vivid atmospheres. The cosmic aspect comes from that toying with time and space.
A lot of that is in thanks to the prominent presence of pedal steel. The group takes advantage of the instrument’s versatility to totally change the mood of a song. Furthest Out’s “High Tides” has a tropical, coastal feel, fitting for the water imagery in the lyrics. Meanwhile, the drawn-out instrumental breaks in “Benny Mucky Blues” bring to mind the warbled ring in the air after an explosion—especially emotional ones, like catching your lover with your brother.
Bluesy, laid-back tracks are what carry both of the albums. Most of the songs balance the line between solemn and rowdy, though there are a handful of more upbeat tracks. “Busted” has a deep, dancey rhythm, while “City Folk” is the country stoner anthem you didn’t know you needed.
But still, The Basin Brothers find their bread and butter in that slow country foundation, their pace like a relaxed, sunny day. It’s a comforting and familiar sound, but it’s their penchant for that extra flair that makes these two albums a truly memorable experience.