“Elf” is a clever folk rock album that allows Fish and Scale aka Roland Wälzlein to tell his tales. In 11 tracks of acoustic, spare music, his smoky, weathered voice and fine songwriting are left at the heart of things.
The first song, “Tapestry,” is a song of reflection, made around a highly personal childhood memory. A little yellow dog, in a hospital wallpaper, is a really simple detail that makes the song very human. The mood is more subdued in “Letter from Paulus”, with the flowing piano and a subtle mystery pervading, and “ Holy Man” is inward and questions faith and the source of it.
The pacing is pretty good as well. She Says never overdoes it, leaving the vocals and harmonies the ones that take the emotion; whereas Song of a Life introduces more movement with its guitar work and locked down beat. “Unmask Myself” slowly escalates to an even more obvious confessional. Then “The Kid” throws another gritty bluesy bit that adds another layer of interest to the album.
Later tracks “Stay!” and “Love Song” follow a similar vein of raw recording and minimalist arrangements. “Wonderful” fades gradually away, and your feeling is relaxed.
The trick to the success of “Elf” is its simplicity. With the acoustic set-ups and carefully written lyrics and delivery, the songs have space to breathe which makes for a personal, sincere and relaxed album.
