The emphasis in Howlin Rain is on the howlin. Lead singer Ethan Miller’s throaty delivery is the star of this show. Miller also croons for Comets on Fire, but in that band his vocals share equal billing with the group’s psychedelic instrumental explorations. Howlin Rain’s approach is much more classically classic rock, complete with shades of soul and gospel. It often seems like the band is on stage at a rural Christian revival meeting, with Miller proselytizing at full volume.
It doesn’t take long on Magnificent Fiend for Miller’s voice, a strained howl that makes Greg Dulli’s singing sound crystalline and refined, to take center stage. The album opens with the short instrumental “Requiem,” that rolls on barreling piano chords and blaring trumpets straight into “Dancers at the End of Time.” A minute and a half into that song, after guitar and organ jamming that sounds like it’s straight from Haight-Ashbury circa 1969, Miller’s voice arrives on the scene, and for the rest of the album it dominates the proceedings. - Prefix Magazine
with:
Crystal Antlers
Frank Fairfield
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