As Andre Ethier moves further from the rock ’n’ roll baseline set by his previous band, Deadly Snakes, he becomes an even more slippery animal. At times, he’s a medieval troubadour, at others a moody freak-folk ambassador and a neo-Dylan philosopher. As his thoughtful baritone slithers through these different personas, he’s able to create a hypnotic cabaret. Unfortunately, his success varies from track to track.
Aside from the occasional turn of phrase or acoustic groove, there is nothing remarkable about the songwriting on the album, but there is magic to be found in the details. The recording is wonderfully crisp, especially considering Blue Fog’s tradition of releasing fuzzed-out psych-rock. With production help from Hylozoists vibe-man Paul Aucoin, every ramshackle note is crystal clear. The greatest moments on the album are found in the string arrangements, though. Whether it’s the haunting seesaw of violin and cello or the classic Motown-styled swells, Born of Blue Fog evokes serious beauty without ever being saccharine.
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