ROSE CITY BAND : EARTH TRIP

1. Silver Roses
2. In The Rain
3. World Is Turning
4. Feel Of Love
5. Lonely Places
6. Ramblin' With The Day
7. Rabbit
8. Dawn Patrol

Label : Thrill Jockey

Release Date : June 25, 2021

Length : 43:41

Review (AllMusic) : Psychedelic journeyman Ripley Johnson began Rose City Band as a solo project that refined his more polished and rock-oriented work in bands like Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo into a gauzy, cosmic take on country-folk. He lifted the lo-fi fog of a 2019 eponymous album with the expanded arrangements and twangy touches of the next year's Summerlong, and third album Earth Trip brings in even further heightened production values and a spectrum of subtle, dreamy details. On the songwriting side of things, Johnson stays in a mellow mode for the majority of the record. Slow tempos, straightforward chord changes, and steady, unfussy performances set the foundation for lovely, softly delivered tunes like "In the Rain," "Feel of Love," and the glistening opener "Silver Roses." The album balances out its patient, low-impact moments with a few relatively upbeat country pop tunes and the moody psych-rock shuffle of album closer "Dawn Patrol." Themes of natural beauty appear repeatedly in the lyrics, with Johnson reflecting on the gentle gifts offered by wide-open spaces, wandering trails, or waking up early to spend time alone in nature. In addition to this sharper focus on observing nature, Earth Trip breaks new ground for the project in its clear, direct sound. Recorded primarily at home by Johnson and mixed by producer Cooper Crain, the eight songs that make up Earth Trip have none of the groggy haze of the debut album, and even dial back the overdriven jam-band qualities of the higher-definition Summerlong. Glowing pedal steel, melancholic harmonica lines, understated electric bass, and just a dash of tripped-out wah-wah guitar are all used tastefully throughout the album, keeping Johnson's sleepy vocal melodies and the gently floating energy of the songs as the primary focus. The care and intention applied to all aspects of Earth Trip make it the lightest set from Rose City Band to date, sustaining a mood that's consistently joyful and relaxed, even through various fluctuations in energy and emotional intensity.

Review (Written In Music) : Het is niet vreemd dat de muziek van Wooden Shjips mij naar die beroemde woestijnscene uit de biografische The Doors verfilming van Oliver Stone terugbrengt. De band zoekt daar in alle rust al trippend op drugs naar inspiratie. Het experimentele zit ook diep in het hart van deze psychedelische spacerockers van Wooden Shjips, en openbaart zich in prachtige repeterende drones met een overdosering van echo’s de zanglijnen en een heerlijk onderdompelende gitaar die in een bad van fuzz effecten. Als liedjesschrijver Erik “Ripley” Johnson de volledige tijdsindeling op het nieuwe Rose City Band project richt, vervlakt zijn aandacht rondom Wooden Shjips. In principe slaat hij dezelfde weg als op de laatste plaat V. in, al gaat zijn voorkeur meer naar de countrykant uit. Het gelijknamige Rose City Band is een voorzichtige start, hij zet het geluid verder in de gewaagde psych-country van Summerlong voort. Op het eerste gehoor is het toegankelijke huppel muziek, het zijn die onverwachte psychedelische uitstapjes die voor het verrassende effect zorgen. Alsof onschuldige kampvuurliederen in het overtollige consumeren van het goedje verzuipen wat in illegale drankstokerijen geproduceerd wordt. Earth Trip is letterlijk en figuurlijk stukken aardser. Het plattelandsbestaan wordt in rondzwervende songs bezongen en gaat veel dieper naar die country folk kern op zoek. Hierdoor is het lang niet zo spannend, het avontuur zit vooral in het klein en intiem houden. Noodgedwongen zoekt Erik “Ripley” Johnson tijdens het corona gebeuren in de natuurlijke omgeving naar die mediterende spirituele rust, om er vervolgens als een verrijkt persoon uit te komen. Onderweg staat hij bij het verleden, het heden en toekomst stil. De uitgewerkte ideeën construeren zich als drummer John Jeffrey aanschuift. Melancholiek is hierbij het aan het verleden gekoppelde kernwoord. In The Rain gaat naar regenachtige postpunk uit de jaren tachtig terug. Zo klinkt Darklands van The Jesus and Mary Chain ongeveer als die pluizenbollen zich een half jaar lang in een hutje op de heide opsluiten. Deprimerende donkere avondromantiek met een sfeervolle hang naar escapisme. Doordat de zwaar bebaarde muzikant vrijwel alleen werkt zorgt de eenzaamheid ervoor dat de nostalgische heimwee een grote rol op de jankende slidegitaar werkstukken Silver Roses en Feel Of Love vervult. Toch is het niet allemaal zwaarmoedig. Metamorfose staat toch voor het heden. World Is Turning handelt over verandering en de bevrijdende tussenfase. Wat er ook gebeurt, de wereld draait altijd gewoon door. Een beetje zweverig en wat hippie achtig, maar het klopt wel allemaal. Het genot en herontdekking van de natuur staat in het bevrijdende Lonely Places centraal. De zonnestralen in het dag openende Ramblin’ with the Day verwelkomen het prachtige opgewekte gitaarspel, al ligt op de achtergrond die typerende landelijke slidegitaar als een sluipschutter op de loer om op het juiste moment toe te schieten. De positieve herboren stemmigheid welke sterk in de teksten terug komt is een mooi veelbelovend toekomstbeeld. Met de meeslepende afsluiter grijpt Erik “Ripley” Johnson naar die broeierige seventies psychedelica van Wooden Shjips terug. Man, wat legt hij daar met zijn gitaar toch een heerlijk klankentapijt neer. De aarde wiegt zichzelf bij Rabbit in een denkbeeldige winterslaap om in de felrode Dawn Patrol hemel te ontwaken. De aarzeling slaat nog eventjes toe. Staat de wereld in brand, of is het toch die prachtige ochtendglorie? We maken het allemaal mee.

Review (Under The Radar) : Mama, take these psychedelic garage rockin’ chains off of me! For those of us that don’t give two hoots and a holler about Wooden Shjips or Moon Duo, Rose City Band is the Ripley Johnson train we ride. Three Rose City Band albums in, the prolific Mr. Johnson has eschewed most remnants of psychedelia in favor of a full embrace of the project’s country music leanings. With the exception of the closing “Dawn Patrol,” that skirts the edge of a lysergic kick-in, the album is ripe with economic riffs, understated vocals and solos, and glistening pedal steel runs. That several of the songs recall earlier era classics only help to cement Johnson’s dedication to the roots of this laid back pleasure of a listen. The opener, “Silver Roses,” comes off as a melding of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” crossed by Neil Young’s “Helpless.” And the bristling “Ramblin’ With the Day” sounds like Woody Guthrie’s “Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet?” having a friendly tussle with The Carter Family’s “Sinking in the Lonesome Sea” in the middle of a forest clearing. And if these pairings aren’t enough, the proceedings overall mix the sound of David Berman’s ironic instrumentation (“World Is Turning”) with the insular feel of The Go-Between’s Before Hollywood. Or some heady combination thereof. If these touchstones at all appeal to you, the album should be right up your alley. From the slowly paced beauty of the penultimate track, “Rabbit,” to more openly country tunes like “Lonely Places,” Earth Trip is a joyful romp recorded in the quietest of days. That the album’s title also points to keeping things primarily out of the cosmos is another thing to cherish. Where an extended take of a song, like “In the Rain,” can revel within its terrestrial bounds without ever overstaying its welcome.

Review (It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine) : Rose City Band are out with a new pure American album that rides nicely on the heels of ‘Summerlong’, a continuation into their countrified psychedelic wanderlust, splashing out bright and intoxicating lightheaded songs are both danceable and couch-bound in the same breath, simply a delight to spin as the long orange fingers of the sun are edging over the horizon. While Rose City are not formulaic, the richly textured breezy easy going seamless songs brought to light here are deeply new romantic meditations on stillness, space and the splendor of the world we live in, even if it all feels a bit strange and distracted these days, all of which feature Johnson’s (a member of Wooden Shjips) melodic pedal steel guitar and emancipated yet always very hauntingly lush vocals. As to the nature of the album, Ripley said, “’Earth Trip’ was written during a period of sudden shocks and drastic lifestyle changes for me. I was forced to cancel extensive touring plans for 2020, where I found himself home for an extended period for the first time in years. No longer was I in constant motion, finally able to experience and enjoy the simple pleasures of home life, of being in one place, taking hikes in nature, bathing outside and waking with the dawn. All of this allows me to form new connections to my surroundings, everything from tending to a garden, to sleeping out under the stars. It may sound silly, nevertheless, I found renewed hope and healing in a more mindful relationship with the natural world.” Yes, it’s a wondrous hazed introspective album where Johnson admits that several of his songs take on that feeling one gets from ingesting psychedelics and they’re just starting to come on, where the world begins to buzz and shimmers take hold of your peripheral vision. Again, the lap steel guitar, mandolin and jaw harp infuse and go on to not only enhance, but to play off of Johnson’s lean yet ever present wasted guitar intonations with radiant overtones, allowing ‘Earth Trip’ to ebb with confident musical tonalities that step outside of what one would normally expect, weaving feathered infectious grooves I simply can’t get enough of. It’s a forthright honest engaging album that will have you instantly recognizing, if not participating in all of the attributes it manages to bring front and center. Now, go have a great summer … *** The Fun Facts: The vinyl has been pressed to splatter green (called Forest) and splatter brown (called Wood), both in limited editions, along with a compact disc. First LP pressing will include a deluxe die-cut windowed packaging with four color printing on both the outside and inside of the jacket, also with a fully artworked heavy-weight cardstock printed inner sleeve and limited color variants. Limited packages also include special Rose City Band totes, rolling papers (which we all need more of) and stickers.

Review (Folk Radio UK) : Ripley Johnson has found a way to carry on in spite of the past 15 months, and Earth Trip by his Rose City Band recounts much of what has gone down and his remarkable ability to keep pressing ahead. Plucked off the road and hunkered down in Portland for the first time in years, he began to take advantage of the small things, hikes in nature, bathing outdoors and waking with the first rays of dawn. Becoming more connected with the natural world he found a sense of awe and wonder that exists in the simplest of things. He took advantage of pleasures like tending to his own garden and sleeping out under the stars, developing a sense of harmony that is so easy to mindlessly look beyond. Within Wooden Shjips and Moon Duo he gets to explore other colours, but Rose City Band helps to reconnect him using a sturdy country-rock format that’s also ready-made for instrumental exploration. Johnson handles most of the instrumental work, although John Jeffery plays the drums, while Ryan Jewell percusses on everything from bongos to toothpicks and Barry Walker adds some pedal steel work to this laidback affair. What transpires over the course of these nine songs begins with a recounting of his own journey home on “Silver Roses.” Rather than being maudlin, the song offers the first sign of hope in the final lines with Johnson making it clear, “Feeling sorry/ But rolling home/ To see my baby.” Even against the veil of all that was unknown, he finds things to keep him centred. It’s a message he keeps coming back to in his writing. What sets this music apart is Johnson’s ability to set a tone and lead listeners on an exploration of pathways that offer a calming and contentment one didn’t even seem to know was needed. Usually, it stems from the simplest of things. “In the Rain” offers a sense of peace that enervates an extending guitar foray proving Johnson’s point, “Life’s sweet song/ I behold/ In the rain.” It’s the little things that seem to keep making a big difference. Circular guitar riffs fill the auditory field on “Ramblin with the Day.” One of the faster numbers on Earth Trip, it is filled with an understanding of what has been gained in having to step back from the constant motion forward. In being able to take a moment to breathe again there is an insight to be gained. “Feeling of the dirt in my toes/ Wandering in the cold morning dew/ Thought about a soul I could never really know/ Time is rolling through.” Taking time to take in what’s going on around us makes such a difference if we all take the time to do so. There is a beautiful sense of hope that fills the solos of “Dawn Patrol (Earth Trip).” Allowing yourself to get lost in the magic you come out in a most unexpected place, refreshed and revived. These are moments that we need to hold on to as the pandemic slowly comes to its inevitable close. There are lessons to be learned and on Earth Trip, Rose City Band suggests that we continue to take a moment just to breathe.