In addition to being a prolific artist in his own right, Josh Tillman also finds employ as the drummer for Fleet Foxes. Listening to Year In The Kingdom, you can’t help but picture him as some kind of alt-folk superhero, a bright red letter ‘J’ emblazoned on his chest. Not surprisingly, some of these songs go hand-in-hand with those of his full-time outfit, with ‘Earthly Bodies’ in particular recalling the celestial loveliness of the Seattle minstrels.
However, where Fleet Foxes’ debut album conveyed a sense of ethereal tranquillity, Tillman’s music is cut from somewhat darker material, of the type that clothed Nick Drake. The guitar technique may differ but, like the tragic Drake, he communicates a feeling of being isolated from his fellow man even whilst sharing their pain. The sense of solitude is emphasised by the uncluttered production. On ‘Age Of Man’, guitar and voice seem to inhabit their own tract of land within the sprawling prairie of the American’s sound.
Meandering like a mountain stream towards the sea, Tillman’s spiritual musings – whether communing with nature or pondering the immortal – are unhurried, but as on ‘Marked In The Valley’ often meet vexing obstacles. Still, he does his best to shake regret and disappointment from his heart, the music complementing these tender ruminations, with the occasional use of ethereal backing vocals, strings and chimes helping to gently swell the sound. At its best, Year In The Kingdom is capable of slowing the body clock, forcing the listener to savour its songs at a more measured beat. In our hyper-paced modern world there’s something hugely gratifying about that.