Brent Knopf has found a delightfully mellow musicianship, far away from the quirky, hybrid-pop, computer-generated tunes he’s crafted as a member of Menomena, in his first solo project, Ramona Falls, and the debut album, intuit, which is a result of collaboration with thirty-five friends in the Portland and New York scenes. Complex blends of instrumentation and vocals create an expansive atmosphere of sound in which almost anything can happen. A beautiful refrain can be suddenly interrupted by a droning, repetitive marching tune, which, in turn, can transform into a bouncy, rural dance break, and Knopf finds a way to make this happen seamlessly and effortlessly.
One of the subtle charms of the record is its wholeness: Opener “Melectric” introduces the style of Ramona Falls, the tracks build up to the instrumentally supreme midpoint, “Salt Sack,” and the final two tracks complete the arc of the album, beginning with the triumphant “Bellyfulla” and put to bed by the lullabye-esque “Diamond Shovel.”
The album sometimes comes off a little too basic for the day, with bands like Beirut and Fleet Foxes covering similar bases as many of the tunes on intuit; it’s easy to wonder why this album was necessary. Well, the importance stems from the passion with which it was produced. Knopf is the last member of Menomena to break off for an individual album, but the collaboration of so many artists has made the wait worthwhile.
Ramona Falls teaches us that the modern solo project defies its old reputation as the futile death rattle of a band that’s gone the way of the dinosaur. Now, it is possible to become lost in a maze of intricate artistry made up of side projects, B-sides, bootlegs, remixes, and secret albums. Music collectors rejoice!
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