When horns come up in modern music, they’re too often associated with jam bands and ska. For those who don’t fancy the long sax solo or crass brass tones behind distorted guitar, there are other ways to get your horn fix aside from Reel Big Fish or The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The following four groups use horns in tasteful ways that will intrigue and entertain while not taking away from the song.
When I Pretend to Fall by The Long Winters
Released in 2003, When I Pretend to Fall tactfully includes trombone, saxophone, and trumpet on most of the tracks. Never is it overbearing or distracting; the horns boost the guitar riffs and catchy lyrics during the choruses and drive their own melodies in the space between. With help from Death Cab for Cutie producer Chris Walla throughout much of the album, this record is one to grab for your collection.
The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album by Sufjan Stevens
After his 22 track Come on Feel the Illinoise!, Sufjan Stevens still had some spillover tracks (believe it or not), enough to record and release this interesting collection of B-sides. With a very eclectic selection of instruments, Stevens and his musicians combine clarinet, trumpet, and flute with guitars, drums, bass, glockenspiel, and banjo to round off their unique and distinguishable sound.
Floating World by Anathallo
Using instrumentation strikingly similar to Sufjan’s, but with an entirely different feel, Anathallo is a Chicago based band that deserves to be heard. Anathallo’s arrangements jump from sparse instrumentation to hectic, thick textured breaks with chaotic instrumentation. With their flowing flugelhorn and engaging melodies, Floating World is on the same need-to-hear-before-you-die list as Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue.
Re-Arrange Us by Mates of State
Mates of State consists of husband and wife Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner, and contrary to our theme of brass and wind, neither of them play real horns. Lucky for past and future fans, Mates of State doesn’t stick to their limitations, decorating their recent effort Re-Arrange Us with thoughtfully composed horn patches throughout. While the record doesn’t have real people blowing real breath through real brass, the album exhibits good songwriting and benefits from the hornlines. Good job Mates, keep it up.
