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Rating: This is an album that, from the very first seconds, contains those naiveties and imperfections of a recording on some old analog equipment, performed by a tight-knit group, led by a singer-songwriter with a voice of startling fragility and eloquence, which seems always on the verge of breaking, but never does.
These are the premises of "When The Devil's Loose," in my opinion, one of the most successful albums by the American "storyteller" A.A. Bondy.
This elusive character possesses an almost spectral charisma: armed with the timeless sound of a folk guitar, this young man has managed to create an album that presents itself just like its author: simply and unpretentiously, mixing strong nods to traditional folk (Dylan, Woody Guthrie…) and more recent sounds (Elliott Smith, Sparklehorse, Wilco, Slow…).
To quote one of the titles contained in the tracklist, this album has all the flavor of a "slow parade," a slow, dreamy, and fascinating parade that takes us from acoustic guitars to the warm tubes of amplifiers.
These are dark and menacing songs in many respects: songs of defeat and solitude, which still allow a glimpse of light.
The sound of the album is simply the sound of a band captured live in a room, with all the little imperfections that result, but that in their own way, make the music unique and special.
The live aspect of the recordings adds that touch of unpredictability; those extra details that make this type of music much more captivating and interesting.
A.A. Bondy certainly hasn't invented the wheel with this album, but his interpretation is sincere, honest, and convincing.
Tracklist and Videos
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