Hal Cannon and the provocative spindly beauty and darkness of "Tarantula March"

 

photo by William Matthews


Not for the arachnophobic, "Tarantula March" by folklorist, songwriter and radio producer Hal Cannon, and from his upcoming full length "Nothin' Lastin'" (dropping October 7th, 2022), opens with slippery sort of gothic bluesy psychedelic keys that give way to banjo plucks. When Hal's voice drops in, stuffed full of character like beautifully worn Wells Lamont leather work gloves that have seen things, you are easily mesmerized. His vocal countenance contain awe as he speaks of tarantulas and nature and love that bites. The metaphors seem upfront but with Hal's breathy deep resonant voice as storyteller, as wise sage and provocateur makes you second guess any such notions. 

The rattling rhythm with a inflected offbeat, "duh duh" (keyboard or high bass notes, I am not sure) that strangely make me think of Soft Cell's rendition of "Tainted Love", a stunning lead guitar break (or is that a synth?) with other rootsy orchestrations are out of this world or maybe on the edge of it anyway. The sonics are incredible, there are sounds where I can't exactly identify what instrument is creating them. It is like being out in the wild and hearing haunting coos and warbles and wondering what the hell is out there. Hal crafts his sound with a bevy of talented musicians / collaborators who obviously think in divergent ways. 

To say that this affair is trippy is an understatement. On the Official Video Hal looks like the Polyphonic spree's senior member with cast Tarantulas on his face. A mind bending ride that you will want to share with someone. As press notey stuff indicate [He is a founding light of the Deseret String Band, the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. After producing over a hundred cultural features for NPR, he now produces occasional radio documentaries for Australia's Radio National. He lives in a pecan orchard in the old pioneer village of ​Pocketville on a bend in the Virgin River. (Salt Lake City, Utah)]

"We dance the tarantella... We dance the tarantella..."

Indeed.

-Robb Donker Curtius

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:

https://www.facebook.com/halcannonmusic

https://halcannon.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/halcannon/

http://www.halcannon.com/


Widely known as a folklorist, songwriter and radio producer, his early musical life was dedicated to capturing the beauty and styling of nineteenth century folk music of the American West. He is a founding light of the Deseret String Band, the Western Folklife Center and the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. After producing over a hundred cultural features for NPR, he now produces occasional radio documentaries for Australia's Radio National. He lives in a pecan orchard in the old pioneer village of ​Pocketville on a bend in the Virgin River.


“An absolute triumph of the human spirit” - Van Dyke Parks on upcoming album Nothin’ Lastin’

“Highly original and inspired” - Cowboys & Indians

“The music seeps into your ears the way a good medicine seeps into your body and does some good work” - No Depression

Hal Cannon, folklorist, songwriter and radio producer, singer songwriter, musician, writer, avant folk, gothic folk, indie rock, alt country, Americana, gothic noir, "Tarantula March", album "Nothin' Lastin'",