Mood music, that’s what this album, “Willow Be”, from Brooklyn band Live Footage could be mistaken before. Of course, I’m not talking about background music here but more the kind of music that persuades and perhaps even provokes you without appearing to make any particular effort to get your attention.
As you might imagine from the above comments, Live Footage have taken a rather more classical approach to instrumental rock than is usual for a band nowadays. Their songs build nicely according to a carefully worked out plan thus providing a surefootedness that takes the listener along a safe musical path. This is mannered music carefully assembled in a way that sometimes seem at odds with their no doubt improvisational beginnings (Mong Deri Da descends into something of an extended soundtrack cue , for example). However, the almost European elegance of “Sad Love Story” and the simple beauty of “Big Mind” provide more than adequate compensation for the occasional lapse in the adventure stakes.
“Willow Be” is a pleasing album to listen to and, in many ways, reminded me of King Crimson in their more reflective moments and I therefore suspect that there is an audience out there just waiting to discover Live Footage.