Thanksgiving

There are some musicians who can pick up a guitar, sing over three chords and churn out a religious experience. This is the reason that, for instance, Palace's Days in the Wake is a masterpiece and not just some guy who can barely play recording experiments onto his four-track. The magical, arcane quality these songwriters possess is simply a matter of inspiration, resourcefulness, and the ability to channel the profound regardless of how simple the melody. Thanksgiving (Adrian Orange) is an up-and-comer who will someday be eligible for near-Oldham status, no doubt, if he sticks to his guns and continues to make music as stark, heartfelt and intimate as he has. Following close on the heels of Orange's latest full length, The River, the In the World EP is as good as the last but with a different approach to the same simple, devotional songwriting. It sounds more like a bedroom recording, with Adrian Orange's gentle guitar plucking and deep hum so delicate and proximate that the recording almost feels pornographic. The music, though not without influence, doesn't imitate or derive; it's clear that Orange plays only what best delivers his thoughts and feelings, which is as rare a thing as it is a great one. Simply said: Orange has a gift, and he's flaunting it with every note he picks.