Memory Tree is the fifth album by Daniel Darrow's collective The Pull Of Autumn, as usual Daniel has pulled together a top-class line-up of collaborators including John Neff, Phil Parfitt, Luke Skyscraper James, Leigh Gregory, Bruce Macleod, Sophia Campbell, Julius Manning, Matthew Darrow, Ricky Humphrey and Kraig Jordan.
The album opens with the title song Memory Tree that has long tones over the elegiac intro. Walter Benjamin is Leigh Gregory's hushed evocation of Walters life, whispered vocals, strings and an acoustic guitar, with a feel somewhere between Fives Leaves Left Nick Drake and the 3rd album by The Velvet Underground as touchstones to jump off from.
Freedom's A Thief has Sophia Campbells ethereal vocals floating over the harp like backing, slowing leading you to a prison cell, inner sadness for a world changing for the worse at every turn.
Lovely Fellow has Luke Skyscraper James fashioning dark sad feelings for that Lovely Fellow, wallowing in the glory of the enveloping strings, compassionate feelings for someone caught up in the fame game.
The Dolphins are sumptuously evoked by Paul Everett as this elegiac version of Tim Buckley's timeless classic unfurls, the strings weaving together the synth lines.
Awakening is like the gentlest wake-up call imaginable, the early morning sunshine peaks through the curtains, strings nudge you awake from a deep slumber, slowly opening your eyes in readiness for a brand-new day.
I Was Just Dreaming allows Bruce Macleod to explain what he was thinking of, the strings hold those notes longer than you expect them too. He is hoping this gentle seduction will have her falling deep into his arms, wanting to hear The Orchids original again soon.
Lines Written is a sad poem for lost love with Phil Parfitt mourning his lost love, the devastation of the loss is eased by the slow beauty encapsulated by the shimmering strings with super carefully strummed acoustic guitar.
The single Lost Time has more of a folk strum to the acoustic guitar as Julius Manning makes clear his hopes and fears for the times we are living through.
A Shrine To Past Memories feelings of loss, sorrow, infinite sadness ululates from the deep keyboards, strings waft across the air like fleeting memories of better days gone by.
Flow Motion is the longest piece on the album, with slow thoughtful drumming, mute trumpet piercing through the gloomy synths.
Opening/Closing has Kraig Jordan's delivering this tale of love and loss at a faster pace than anything on the album, the synths weave in between the acoustic guitars to add emphasis for all the lines taking us on one final journey.
Find out more at https://thepullofautumn.bandcamp.com/album/memory-tree https://www.facebook.com/ThePullOfAutumn https://www.facebook.com/rbmrecordsboston
