The debut album“Tangle Town” by Don Ryan begins with a sampling of crackling records from perhaps some long ago Tin Pan Alley recording, then shoots into the raucous “This Town”. Specializing in a heady gumbo of experimental Alt-Folk with psychedelic leanings, Ryan conjures a world that has become a sort of deranged, dark circus. Ryan proclaims “this town is burning down” to the tune of handclaps and chimes giving the statement more of a celebratory feel than a calamity. There is a definite Brechtian air to this fine album opener.
However, what stands out most in this album is a wide array of styles and experimentation. Just when it seems to be going down the Dresden Dolls Brechtian Punk alley, the mode shifts to lovelorn balladry in the vein of Elliott Smith, or Elephant 6 artists such as Olivia Tremor Control all the way to Tom Waits and at times Jeff Magnum. Even though some tracks tend to sound incongruous beside one another, there is a fine thread of cohesiveness and emotional scope that runs through the album as a whole.
Based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Ryan is joined by Joe Vernazza on drums, and Rich Haddad on bass. It’s obvious that Ryan is at the start of his career and is still nailing down and playing around with his sound. The rawness of his musical offerings make this clear, and to me, that is exciting. Just when a folky ballad comes to a close, a spastic Depression-era sounding cartoon character voice will burst out.
It’s a long album and is very much on the order of a really fantastic mix-tape featuring one versatile artist with a wide array of influences and styles he is playing around with like a kid in a candy shop. I don’t like it when artists play it safe or are going for one very obvious idea and image, and while it could be argued that that is exactly what Ryan is doing, to me it is all but the opposite. He’s not afraid of venturing down weird, dark alleys and playing with the strange bits and bobs he happens upon.
Take a listen! Right this way! More harmoniums, please!
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