Backed by a rambunctious rhythm that isn’t preceded by a big theatrical intro, the opening bars of “Fare Thee Well” by the charismatic Lindley Creek make it clear that fanciful frills of the conventional variety are not to be found in this new single from the acclaimed country crossover outfit. Contrarily, this is a roots release that uses only straightforward means in getting and keeping our attention, starting first and foremost with the melodic presence of the strings in this mix. From the guitars to the fiddle and back, they’re grabbing us by the collar and pulling us just a little closer to the soul of this band inside of this track’s first twenty seconds, and once vocals come into the fold, there’s no turning back from this sweet slice of Americana.
The verses have a nice little sway to them, but they’re not in control of the rhythm – that role belongs to the throbbing harmony they forge, which maintains a steady command over the groove in this single from start to finish. There are places where a collective effort counts for something in this style of music, but it should also be noted that simplifying something like a beat pattern – which practically every act in their scene is overcomplicating in 2023 – has a lot more benefits when trying to construct something equally fragile and expressive. Lindley Creek are hardly rookies in this game, and it’s hard to step away from “Fare Thee Well” without appreciating the experience that they bring to the table.
While a tad eclectic in comparison to what their rivals would have done, I think this mix has a balanced finish that amplifies the fluidity of this band more than it does their all-out passion for the medium, which isn’t to say it still isn’t evident in this performance. These players are just clicking so well that it’s hard to tell where one part ends and another is picking up the slack, with the most clandestine of elements in the track arguably giving us just as much emotion as the singer is with his words. Lindley Creek has a special bond here, and if you didn’t already know about it before listening to “Fare Thee Well,” I guarantee you’re going to be talking about it after checking this song out.
Country’s underground has given us some of the most iconic artists in the history of the American songbook, and in Lindley Creek’s new single we have yet another undebatable must-listen. This is a band that doesn’t care for labels, and it shows; their influences span both coastlines and culminate in a gentle melodic wit that could make just about any subject within the lexicon of Americana sound tuneful and agreeable to listeners. I’ve been hearing more and more about the alternative side of this aesthetic in 2023, but it’s hard for me to categorize this act with the rebels in folk and country music simply because of how loyal they are to the foundations of what made both genres so enticing to listeners, to begin with. Regardless, they’ve got my attention at any rate.
Troy Johnstone