Liz Cooper and the Stampede Offer Cerebral Psych Folk On ‘Window Flowers’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

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Liz Cooper and The Stampede may be responsible for an entirely new independent genre, one best described as cerebral psychedelic folk given the way it blends Cooper’s fragile singing with more than a hint of atmospheric intervention. The delicate designs are obviously alluring, but Cooper’s winsome delivery puts the melange into a different realm entirely, one which is both compelling and elusive all at the same time.

While most of the 11 tracks are created from a shimmer and a sway, the tempos take the music from the careful caress of “Mountain Man” and “Kaleidoscope Eyes” to the more decided delivery of “Outer Space” and the eagerly expressive “Hey Man.” The song titles provide early evidence as to where the melodies may be heading, but the subtle blend of keyboards, glockenspiel, pedal steel, and banjo provide a basis of comparison that leans towards touring mates such as Lord Huron, Deer Tick and Blitzen Trapper. Still, a casual listen alone isn’t enough to get a complete grasp of Cooper and company’s actual intents, and while the band’s earlier EPs — Monsters (2014) and Live at the Silent Planet (2016) — offer some basis for understanding, credit Cooper for being intriguing enough to avoid the typical typecasting that often follows any initial outlay.

Ultimately, Window Flowers is as sweet and serene as the name of the album seems to suggest, and while its tones and textures may be a bit too elusive overall to attract immediate appreciation, future efforts may allow the group to put a more definitive stamp on their songs and solidify the structure. For now anyway, the band is getting some early attention and that suggests that all eyes will be on what they pursue from here. For now anyway, Window Flowers provides early indication that their efforts are just beginning to bloom.

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