With a career spanning over sixteen years, Cass McCombs has managed to make a name for himself in the indie-folk scene by infusing bits of punk and psychedelia into his works. After garnering critical acclaim with his 2009 album Catacombs, McCombs has continued to release consistently great albums and built up a steady following of fans. Having never been one to actively reach for the spotlight, McCombs has steadily created well-regarded albums that always seem to be heartfelt with a refusal to “sell out”.
Tip of the Sphere opens with “I Followed the River South to What,” an eight-minute psych-folk track that comes across as a rundown of McCombs’ past output over the past decade and a half. It segues perfectly into the old-timey feeling “The Great Pixley Train Robbery” in which McCombs channels lyrics of the old-west and those sailing the Pacific over a rock song that would have sounded right at home in the world of 70’s rock. “Estrella” is an indie folk song that feels like it could be on just about any of McCombs’ past albums and showcases some languid guitar playing that really highlights his vocals. While most of the album is made up of solid tracks, “American Canyon Sutra” stands apart in that it gets a bit too experimental with its mix of electronics and psychedelic sounds and doesn’t have the makings of a fan favorite. “Real Life” implements the Indian tabla, a percussion instrument that adds a bit a psychedelia to a beautifully mellow, acoustic track. Tip of the Sphere closes with the ten-minute jam, “Rounder”. Bluesy guitar and organ notes bring to mind the stylings of Kurt Vile mashed with Phish circa Rift.
With Tip of the Sphere, McCombs showcases his talent for diverse songwriting while managing to keep most songs within his signature style. Though the album doesn’t really venture into new territory, the quality of songs on Tip of the Sphere maintain the same consistency of quality as his past albums. It is an album that is bound to please both diehard fans and newcomers alike.
