ALBUM REVIEW: Willis Earl Beal

By Daniel Taroy

TOP TRACK: "TAKE ME AWAY" BOTTOM TRACK: "SAMBO JOE FROM THE RAINBOW"

As a self-proclaimed “outsider artist,” Willis Earl Beal enjoys freedom from mainstream expectation —which he takes full advantage of in Acousmatic Sorcery. In ten tracks, Beal tries everything from pastoral balladry (“Evening’s Kiss”) to gospel chanting (“Take Me Away”) to beat poetry (“Ghost Robot”). The album is simple yet emotionally raw; Beal howls angrily one moment and strums a nepenenoyka lap harp the next. Through Beal’s brusque, powerful vocalizations, Acousmatic Sorcery could bring you to spiritual awakening. Otherwise, it’ll make you long for a Southern summer night—cicadas and all.

4 Nancies