Arbuz Dust – Dark Countries (Album Review)

The 13 track album ‘Dark Countries’ by Polish/Scottish band Arbuz Dust plays out like an eclectic folk-rock dream, with many a surprise along the way.

Formed in Krakow in 2017, Arbuz Dust made a name for themselves in the Polish folk scene with the release of their 2020 debut album ‘Never Trust A Monkey’. Now 4 years later, it is easy to see what continually makes their sound so intriguing, with ‘Dark Countries’ tracks ranging from mournful acoustic arrangements and bluesy ballads to animated country anthems.

The album’s opener ‘Let It Go, Pt 1′, is as arresting as it is sombre. The stunning symphony of vocals led by expressive crooner Brian Wood seems to hold the emotional weight of a wrecking ball as the group impressively navigates lyrical themes of sorrow and spirituality. The leisurely strums of the guitar and muted percussive flourishes, courtesy of member Michal Rutkowski, really help envelope Wood’s’ vocals in an ambience of calm and quiet contemplation.

2nd track ‘Charlatan’ begins with the thrilling swell of Wood’s vocals, which growl and wail with a dramaticism that proves to be beyond exciting set against an upbeat combination of guitar, piano, harmonica, and drums. There is a definite surf rock feel to the guitar’s swinging riffs and the overall production of ‘Charlatan’, despite the darkness that still lingers within the lyrics (“I was raised in the darkness”), which concern betrayal, lies and the resulting hurt accumulating from toxic relationships.

The next track, ‘Treacherous Heart’, as hinted by the name, returns to a more brooding musical sentiment with the inclusion of a jazzy piano intro and blues-inspired piano-led accompaniment. Wood’s larger than life vocal performance is rich and full as he breathes life into the story of a man forcing his former lover to confront her sins. As well as this, an unexpected tempo shift followed by a breezy guitar solo elevate the spectacle of ‘Treacherous Heart’, while still allowing the listener to bask in the group’s pleasing harmonies and colourful melodies.

The 4th track, ‘Bring It On’, opens with a reggae guitar backing paired with a groovy bass ukulele riff. With the help of Wood’s sweeping vocals, the song exudes a peaceful nostalgia within its pleasantly swaying tempo. ‘Hole In My Head’ also employs a blossoming chorus that perfectly highlights the singer’s distinctive vocal tone. This time however, the song dabbles in country rhythms and melodies, and bolsters them with member Monika Kaminska’s delicate touch on the piano and the playful strums of a guitar.

The immensely enjoyable folk ballad that is ‘Bird On The Wind’ sounds wistful with its tentative string and piano intro, as Wood’s tender vocals soar over the instrumental with a practiced ease. Indeed, the vocalist’s spectacular vibrato only contributes to the sense of freedom that this track emanates. ‘You Reap What You Sow’ similarly embraces the tranquil air of Arbuz Dust’s music through its unhurried rhythms and the addition of Magda Chojnacka’s ukulele, which affords the track some welcome tropical vibes.

‘Shining Path’ returns to the mournful folk-rock sound that the band execute so well. While moody bass ukulele lines and distant guitar trills paint a picture of longing and regret, Wood’s sings a dramatic tale of a life running from a criminal past; furthering listeners’ perception of bleak yet still beautiful images while enjoying this song.

Beginning with a spoken word introduction in Polish, the unapologetically bold ‘Coronovirus Blues’ gives audiences anything they could ask for: a melodramatic vocal performance, passionate lyrics, and an initially bluesy instrumental which quickly transforms into an acoustic-led jam session. The song’s audacious spirit powers this four and a half minute epic to sky-high proportions, and may well be one of the highlights of the album.

‘Food For Thought 2 (Special Version)’, the first version of which was featured on the previous album ‘Never Trust A Monkey’, is brimming with excitable energy right from the starting guitar melodies down to Wood’s spirited vocals. ‘Tommy Gun’ opens with a similarly bouncy string intro only to transition into a clap-along country chorus that all members’ play with a startling vitality. It should be noted that percussionist Rutkowski’s integration of cajon, djembe, and guiro into the group’s sound is only one of the features that make Arbuz Dust’s sound so unique, as it is rich with the inspiration of world music amongst many other genres.

The final two tracks, ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me’ and ‘Let It Go, Pt 2’, prove to be almost the antithesis of each other; the former an energetic folk jam characterised by Wood’s exuberant calls of “Nothing’s gonna stop me now!”, while the latter a ballad that relishes in its deliciously dark blues sound. Both songs sum up the feeling of listening to ‘Dark Countries’ back to back; a tumultuous emotional journey through folk-rock highs and moody blues lows.

Score/Excellent: Arbuz Dust’s stunning musicianship is displayed in full force on this brilliantly quirky album; each of the multi-instrumentalists proves that their talent can not be overshadowed by the limitations of a single genre.

[We rank albums, E.Ps and singles on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, Outstanding]

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