Raleigh - Mountaineers - The Mountaineer - Mountaineer

Raleigh - New Times in Black and White Published May 26, 2011 by Jason Lewis in FFWD Music Previews You could call it post-folk. Not that Raleigh takes folk concepts past their logical endpoint — it’s that this local three-piece combines elements of classic songwriting with the telltale signposts most often associated with the Midwest post-rock scene. The 10 songs on New Times in Black revel in epic albeit subdued structure, and whiplash time and tempo changes. Guitarist Brock Geiger favours intricate finger-plucking and low-key soloing that, coupled with Clea Anaïs’s emotive work on the cello, ensures Raleigh has a clearly defined sound. Geiger’s solo output and Anaïs’s tenure in The Consonant C point to strong song crafting and an ability to offer lush pop-scapes, but together their duet vocals offer something truly special. His voice is warm,hers is sweet, making every note that they share more than just the combination of their voices. Drummer Matt Doherty is also in step, crystallizing songs from behind the kit. Dressing up brilliant minimalism with oblique accents is one thing, but Doherty’s drumming brings resonant tension to New Times in Black. Whether it’s “Tunnel Vision” dripping with strings and warm indie charm, “Balloon Boy” crackling with restrained energy, or the eerie, elliptical loops of “Murderer,” Raleigh will find respect from dour hipsters, indie kids and aging hippies.