CD Review

‘Tiny Fires’ by Tiny Fires

Matt Kanner (The Wire / Nov. 4, 2009)

Tiny Fires is an amalgamation of some of the area’s most tried and true indie artists, and this self-titled disc demonstrates a wealth of experience and musical imagination. The group’s sedate and ethereal slow-core style is nothing short of entrancing.

The band is led by Dylan Metrano, of Tiger Saw fame, on guitar and vocals, with local songwriting guru Guy Capecelatro on bass, guitar, and other instruments. It’s rounded out by Jeremy Robinson on keyboard, bass, piano and vocals, and Jerusha Robinson on drums, castanets, piano, vocals and more. The Robinsons also comprise South China and are past members of Brown Bird.

The seven songs on this disc are dreamy, with a vocal and instrumental lushness that mesmerizes. Beneath the slow heave of each track brews an intoxicating broth of echoing noise, sometimes haunting, sometimes warm and comforting.

The opening track, “Certain Ghosts” is especially slow in tempo, but evokes a cozy sort of buzz on the listener. “I still remember that December / tiny fires that burn together / a makeshift choir with voices high / sang like cats, we were on fire,” the band sings in harmony.

The next track, “Sinner Man”, adopts a slick, loungy sound with softly spoken lead vocals and spine-tingling background harmonies. Next comes “Wild At Heart”, which has an intriguing garage sound, like an outtake from a Pavement album. By this time, the listener at home is sucked in.

Originally called Paper Birds, Tiny Fires formed late in 2008. Metrano and Capecelatro are two of the most prolific musicians in the region, and they’ve found equally savvy band mates in the Robinsons. With their expert ears and creative minds, they make the Tiny Fires’ flame burn bright.