Album Review | Arborist | A Northern View

Mark McCambridge cuts an unassuming figure on Belfast's rained out cobbles. Since 2014 the retiring songwriter has been crafting songs of delicate beauty, quietly getting on with the business of being one of the cities best and worst kept secrets. Unusual, given our introduction to Arborist featured Pixies original bassist and indie icon Kim Deal on backing vocals. Debut album 'Home Burial' followed, along with critical acclaim from the likes of Mojo, Uncut, The Guardian and more. An Americana infused ode to chances taken and missed, gentle laments and finding peace within yourself. One thing was for sure,  'A Northern View' had a high bar to vault over.

Arborist ushers you back into their world with the lush b-side 'Dominican', a sweeping violin-led piece that could just as easily be closing the second act of a war-time play. Within 30 seconds, McCambridge jolts you from your sleep and 'A Stranger Heart' begins for real, mapping 'A Northern View's twisted world out from the beginning. That apprehension never truly leaves the records 11 tracks, crafting an urgency their debut did not.

Arborist did not travel far to make this record, choosing instead to continue his collaboration with Ben McCauley in the producers chair at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios. However, for all it's references to Belfast and the Irish countryside, 'A Northern View' sounds like it could just have easily been made in the Catskill Mountains,  so wide reaching are the songs. Take 'Here Comes The Devil's rustic harmonies and bluesy guitar call, or 'The Guttural Blues' Nick Cave-esque serenade; looping soft piano chords, whilst a synth plays the role of howling Northern winds to perfection.

The albums party piece is surely 'Taxi', a five minute tale of McCambridge's Dad's cousin, Henry McQuillan and how he inadvertently gave Thin Lizzy the idea to record 'Whiskey in the Jar'. Sad and hilarious, 'Taxi' is the moment at which Arborist's brilliance is truly exemplified, taking their lead from Belle and Sebastian's 'A Spaceboy Dream' and closing with a brilliant one liner from our protagonist.



It contrasts nicely with 'From the Sagging Bough of a Maple', a reflective piece recorded in three takes, with the band apparently hearing it for the first time on the day. 'By Rote' focuses on more family history, this time his Aunty teaching him to play the piano as a child. It takes us full circle, as the songwriter reflects that some twenty years later, "...here I am, still trying to repeat what I learned". We are accompanied by Emma Smith's lush strings, colouring 'By Rote's sepia toned world and gifting the record a cinematic feel.

Just as we are starting to settle into McCambridge's story, 'The Dark and The Moon' transports the listener to an old Irish bar, bathed in the moons glow, hundreds of years in the past. We see a room full of people, generations drinking together, a fire roaring and dogs nestling at children's feet. The four piece harmonies on show are as beautiful as any moment on this record, with Joshua Burnside (mid), Gary Graham (bass) and Peter McFaul (falsetto) to thank. 'Don't Let The Sky Take Me' carries on the warmth, the sea-shanty lullaby replaced by harmonies straight off of Fleet Foxes self titled debut.

Beautiful though it is, it falls a little short when placed beside the wistful pull of 'Can I Add You To My Will?', a playful take on reaching a point in your life when you want to write a will. It has a classy, timeless feel, in debt to 50's and 60's orchestral pop. It has jazz elements too, just what the late great Amy Winehouse may have done with a song like 'Can I Add You...?' we can only imagine.

We are edged towards the end with 'Too Much On My Mind', a country song previously reserved for closing gigs on tours gone by. You can tell it's a song McCambridge has lived with for a while, every element from it's deep-south guitar solo, to the 60's synth flourishes working to take you back into his troubled head. He's weighed down by life, just like the rest of us.

Then it's left to the title track to guide us home, by way of triumphant brass, alt-rock guitar work in the shape of Built to Spill or Dinosaur Junior, and more of Emma Smith's shimmering strings. It's the release 'A Northern View' is building towards from 'Dominican's false start, and as is the case most of the time; it's made better for the wait.

As Arborist's sophomore record takes it's bow, you'll be forced back again before long. A mercurial reflection of modern life through a Northern lens, rest assured, these songs can be enjoyed wherever your view.

Taylor Johnson

For fans of:

Fleet Foxes | Band Of Horses | Andy Schauf