Pith and Vinegar is Headlong Retreat’s Album out Now
Good Day Noir Family,
With Pith and Vinegar, Headlong Retreat delivers a refreshingly unpredictable album that tosses genre boundaries aside in favor of something far richer: musical storytelling that is as diverse as it is cohesive.
Pith and Vinegar is Headlong Retreat’s Album out Now
The record opens with “Headlong,” a choral piece that evokes a pastoral and ancient air—blending hints of medieval cadence with global vocal textures. It’s an introduction that feels ceremonial, as if inviting listeners into a sacred grove rather than a standard album.
The experience deepens with “Rendezvous,” a charming throwback to a bygone era, filled with soft jazz touches and an elegance that wouldn’t feel out of place in a 1950s lounge. The female lead vocal here is buttery smooth and remarkably precise, never overreaching, yet delivering every note with intentional grace.
“Feel the Heat” lives up to its name with sultry rhythms and a Latin pulse that lights the floor on fire. The instrumentation crackles with sensuality, and the groove is impossible to ignore—this is music that dares you to move.
Later, “Rubicon” slows things down with a folk-driven narrative, carried by a male vocal that evokes the storytelling clarity of Dylan or Neil Young. There’s a rustic charm in the performance, and the lyrics feel lived-in, like pages from a well-thumbed diary.
Then comes “One Cooked Goose,” a cheeky blues number that proves the band doesn’t take itself too seriously. Witty and rhythmically tight, it’s a playful detour that adds warmth and humanity to the record.
The energy keeps building with “Dysfunction at the Junction,” a track powered by a thick ‘70s-style groove, where funk and soul meet in a hypnotic sway. This is foot-tapping music, no doubt, but also rich in nuance—layered percussion, slick basslines, and just enough grit to make it stick.
The album closes on a high note with “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Smooth, catchy, and impeccably arranged, it serves as the final bow in a performance that feels thoughtfully curated from beginning to end.
Pith and Vinegar is a multi-chaptered experience, led by veteran hands who know exactly when to lean in and when to let the music breathe. Few albums manage to be this varied without losing direction.
Pith and Vinegar is Headlong Retreat’s Album out Now!
Vibrant!
Headlong Retreat is the latest genre-blending project from sharp-witted songwriter Bill Neely, known for his past work with the cult band Left Field. With a history of incisive, satirical lyrics and unforgettable titles like “Billions of Brain Cells Ago” and “Science & Technology (You Owe Us an Apology),” Neely now returns with Pith and Vinegar, a bold new album that fuses folk, rock, jazz, and Latin grooves with lush harmonies inspired by doo-wop, barbershop, and Appalachian Sacred Harp.
Created with a global cast of collaborators — including musicians from Ireland, Mexico, Germany, Argentina, and the U.S. — Pith and Vinegar stands as a musically rich and socially aware statement. Core members Neely and Liz Emmert (County Clare, Ireland), Bill Bly (Mexico), and Doug Miles (Hudson Valley, NY) are joined by renowned contributors like drummer Steve Holley (Wings), engineer/bassist Mark Dann, and the late keyboardist Deborah Griffin Bly, whose legacy lives on through modern technology.
With humor, heart, and a global reach, Headlong Retreat invites listeners to take a sharp turn toward meaning in a chaotic world.
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