Red House Painters
Old Ramon

Initially a standard-bearer of slow-core, later increasingly closer to rock and the roots of American music, Mark Kozelek, with his Red House Painters, is simply one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced the contemporary music scene. His albums have always been a guarantee of quality, and the San Francisco musician does not disappoint in his solo work, that is, those released under the new moniker Sun Kil Moon.

During the tour of Songs For A Blue Guitar, released in 1996 by 4AD, Kozelek begins writing new songs, often previewed to the audience during live performances. It is precisely on these occasions that the masterpiece "River" can be glimpsed. The Ohio native seems to have reached a longed-for musical balance. He appears, now far from the trap of the slow-core musician cliché, standing alongside his great idols of the past in the music scene (Neil Young, Pink Floyd); no longer seeking models to follow since he has become an archetype himself, thanks to his unmistakable voice and unique musical sensitivity. 

It's October 12, 1997. John Denver, a country music star, dies in a plane crash. Mark grew up listening to Denver's songs.  From this news event, our artist draws new inspiration. His pen hadn't been so inspired since his dazzling record debuts. He writes "Golden" for his idol. The whole album is, to a greater or lesser extent, influenced by the master of Monterey. Everything seems ready for what would turn out to be the last act of RHP.
The result of this effort is a breathtaking album, played superbly, and unusually sunny at times, compared to previous works. One can notice a greater guitar presence and certainly more creativity in the arrangement of the tracks. If the Painters previously played in black and white, they now seem to prefer Technicolor. However, for fans of the old sound, there will still be the more reflective moments; moments that achieve gigantic depth and drama, destined to remain engraved in the listener's memory for a long time.   

Kozelek sees the finished product already in the spring of 1998 and, after months spent rehearsing, recording, and mixing the songs in six different studios, traveling between California and Texas, he decides to name it Old Ramon. The release date was set for the same year, but during those days, the long partnership binding the band to 4AD ended. The reasons have never been clarified unambiguously. A period of contractual disputes begins, and the album seems destined to be lost, if not for the determination and stubbornness of Mark Kozelek, who also takes on the role of producer. After various disappointments, the choice finally falls on Sub Pop. It's 2001. All these events, if they haven't marred the album's beauty, have affected its (poor) commercial success and certainly Kozelek's morale, who, weary of dealing with things unrelated to music, soon after founded Caldo Verde Records.

Old Ramon is, in the opinion of the writer, the best RHP album since "Rollercoaster". An album that, aside from a few missteps ("Byrd Joel", "Between Days"), exhibits an overwhelming density of quality and offers some of the most beautiful songs of the group and, more generally, an intense and unique listening experience throughout the work (over seventy minutes). A must for Kozelek fans, a great start for those who still don't know him.

Hasty listeners and those who "...just can't stand this sad music, I can't take it..." should abstain.