There's something vaguely romantic about The Travelling Band. Not romantic in a sappy flowers, hearts, and candles kind of way, but more in the sense of fleeting waves of nostalgia, melancholy, and quiet wistfulness that leaves you trying to put your finger on something that just got away.

It's the kind of album that makes you slip into your own little world. The sound is a fusion of folk and rock, as if the now defunct Nickel Creek got tangled up in a wheat field with The Shins. While that may seem like an odd pairing, the place where the two intersect is really quite intriguing.

Under the Pavement starts off with the immediately appealing strings and cymbal shimmer of Only Waiting. It's probably an accurate representation of the tone of the album. If halfway through the first track you're lost, don't bother to keep going. If you've got some patience, on the other hand, and 50 minutes to give to the kinds of songs that take their time to unravel, then stay tuned.

This is not to say that every song is a mid-to-slow tempo dawdler, but it happens frequently. Fortunately, The Travelling Band does these best. Fragments of Green is easily the prettiest song on the album, a truly wistful tune complete with accordion. The band sings, "do it in your own words, we can add them to mine, subtract what we've already heard," to the point of hypnosis.

Another standout track is Lanes of Names, which just adds to that wandering mystique. "It's easier if you can see the light in their eyes." At times, their harmonies might sound like something is amiss, but it winds up being more distinctive than detrimental.

On the more up tempo side of life, there's i.N.V.E.R.T., a sinusoidal hoedown of sorts, or High Five, a bluesy country groove with a bit of swagger.  

Of course, Under the Pavement ends much like it started, but with more kick. Sweet City is the longest song, coming in at 5:49 but it's definitely worth it. They take all that achy wistful business, give it a caffeine shot in the arm and leaves the listener in a fairly balanced mood while guitar, piano, and drums play themselves out.

For a debut album, The Travelling Band is confident in their sound/ identity and the album is quality work. Quality enough to snag the Glastonbury New Talent nod this past year.  Let’s hope they don’t settle down anytime soon.

Release date: 10/11/08
Artist website: www.myspace.com/thetravellingband
Label: Sideways Saloon

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