Kramies - Of All the Places Been & Everything the End
Dutch-American Kramies Windt may still be a fresh name to many, yet this Colorado based singer songwriter has been releasing singles and EP's on Australian label Hidden Shoal since 2011. This could be the last one ahead of his long awaited debut album finally scheduled to see the light of day later this year.
Teaming up with producers Jason Lyttle (Grandaddy), Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices) and Jerry Becker (Train), the enigmatically titled 'Of All The Places Been & Everything The End' is essentially the pairing of two distinct songs, preceded by a three-track prologue, and punctuated by an eight minute epic that is 'Ireland'. Collectively, these individual components assemble and tell their story – an exploration and reminiscence of experiences passed, a coming to terms with loss, and the beginning of an acceptance of finality.
The result is a sumptuous yet dreamy 23 minute opus, written within an ancient castle in County Kilkenny, and creating a haunting dissertation on the theme of returning home. Gentle and beautiful, borrowing from the styles of both folk and prog, and yet simultaneously reminding of contemporary songwriters such as C Duncan, this is possibly the most essential dream pop collection since Mercury Rev's Deserter's Songs in 1998.
