Grace Park
& The Deer – An Argument For Observation (Grey Spark Records)
Grace Park formed The Deer in early 2012 with lead
guitarist Michael McLeod (Good Field, Richard Linklater film composer), Jesse
Dalton (Green Mountain Grass) on upright bass, and Alan Eckert (Dimitri’s
Ascent) on drums and backup vocals. Their debut album was recorded in McLeod’s
home studio with over 20 musicians and a dozen singers all making
contributions. With so much going on, “An Argument For Observation” could have
sounded unfocussed and over-cooked, but, in fact, the opposite is true. It’s
delicate and wispy, and ethereally beautiful, in much the same way Joanna
Newsom records are.
The Texas group spent over a year on their debut, and
the attention to detail is evident throughout its ten tracks. Produced by Park,
she obviously knew exactly how she wanted her songs to sound, and I suspect
she’s overjoyed with the results. There’s no hint of compromise, from the
double tracked vocals and violin on opening track “All
the Leaping”, to the stunning unaccompanied harmonies on the concluding
“No Code”. In-between “Mary
Sue” reels us in with a delightful vocal hook, “Army
Ants” utilizes magnificent strings, and contrasts perfectly with Park’s
confident delivery and “As Women Go” introduces
a graceful piano and weathered guitar, and together they take the record in a
rootsy Kate Bush direction. Faultless.
Phil S.
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