Madcap musical and lyrical dexterity.
Milwaukee-based songwriter and pedal steel player Will Hansen is Old Pup. Hansen’s last album “Incognito Lounge” was reviewed here back in 2022, a record inspired by the poetry of Denis Johnson. ‘Spider Towns’ is the first single and title track off this new album, now a nod to late poet and songwriter David Berman. Hansen continues with his own idiosyncratic storytelling and continues to throw some absurd imagery out from eleven country-tinged tracks. “Suffering jukebox brimming with cobwebs and spider towns/ thousands of songs” he sings at the end of the title track. Hansen’s quirkiness now extends to recordings captured in living rooms, warehouse hallways, old advertisements, homemade instruments and farm animals. Speaking of dexterity, the man definitely knows his way round a pedal steel. He is supported by many friends and collaborators, including Old Pup core members, Ben Boehm on cello, Drue DeVente on bass, Nate Kinsman on drums and backing vocals from Ellie Jackson (flute) and Johanna Rose among others. They do seamlessly enter and exit the songs.
The musicianship is excellent throughout but some of the lyrics are easier to enter (or exit) than others. Rarely there are relatable everyday observations such as, “Your name misspelled on the coffee cup sleeve”. ‘House of Wind’ is a great track inspired by those inflatable dancing tubes used in advertising but the lyrics are bonkers. “The ghosts are eating all my incense sticks/ There’s a a book of poems smashed between the bricks”.
Still, you can’t help but be amused by lines such as, “Applied for a job as an inflatable dancer, but the boss said we don’t need no understudy freelancers here”. ‘Character Study: Inflatable Dancer’ follows as a musical interlude. ‘Passing’ is just as obscure although, “I was lying on the roof getting stoned with the doorman” might lead some to conclude Hansen maybe sees things a bit differently. ‘Butter’ is another stand-out track recorded in that living room on a ribbon mic. Obscure of course but fun. ‘Ev’s Farm’ another musical interlude complete with sound effects. ‘Sweet Dreams (when you get there)’ is a fine ending. “Sweet Dreams you sleepwalker/ But you already know/ Yeah, you already know”.
