Over the course of more than a decade, San Francisco’s Vetiver have cemented their reputation as torchbearers of American folk music, all the while pushing boundaries and poking holes into the genre. Their six albums celebrate not just elegant guitar work and sparkling, pastoral arrangements, but a profound understanding of Americana traditions. On “Stranger Still,” however, from the group’s recent album Complete Strangers, the group embarks into new territory, creating a sonic bed of unexpected sounds on which frontman Andy Cabic builds his subtle melodic hooks. Listen in as Cabic describes the song’s influences, and explains his intentions behind its minimalist, yet kaleidoscopic, sprawling structure in this episode of the podcast — recorded in Cabic’s kitchen on the eve of Vetiver’s tour supporting Wilco.
Although Vetiver’s headlining performance this Thursday at the Berkeley Botanical Gardens is sold out, you can catch them the following evening at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael.
Additional songs heard in this episode:
Wilco – “I am Trying to Break Your Heart”
Primal Scream – “Loaded”
