Little Me Will Start A Storm

Two current artists weigh heavily on the second full-length by Portland sextet Loch Lomond, The Decemberists (circa Castaways and Cutouts, before the prog-folk epics) and Arcade Fire. The first comparison is perhaps to be expected: not only are they former tourmates from the same hometown, Loch Lomond used to be signed to Hush Records, the alt-folkie indie that also gave The Decemberists their start, and that band's go-to producer Tucker Martine remixed the album's basic tracks. But from opening track "Blue Lead Fences" onward, it's the self-consciously epic scope of Arcade Fire that holds sway. Mandolins, strings, exotic percussion and more form the basis of the arrangements: the lovely instrumental "Water Bells" even features a singing saw, always a welcome treat. With its varied and inventive arrangements, the album sounds terrific on first blush. But unfortunately, the songs themselves are the album's weakest point; even after repeated listenings, neither the lyrics nor the melodies truly stick. There's plenty of potential here, but Little Me Will Start A Storm has the feel of a transitional album. Which to be fair, it is, having been recorded and re-recorded over a two-year span as Loch Lomond transformed from multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Ritchie Young's solo project into a fully-fledged band. But the good points suggest better work still to come.