Black Prairie - Feast of the Hunters Moon

Black Prairie is a new acoustic band from Portland OR comprised of three members of the NW art-pop indie darlings The Decemberists -- Chris Funk (guitar/dobro), Nate Query (bass) and Jenny Conlee (accordian) -- and joined by local musicians Annalisa Tornfelt (violin) and Jon Neufeld (guitar). Originally formed by Funk and Query in the midst of a Decemberists tour, the quintet release their heavily Americana and bluegrass debut Feast of the Hunters Moon on April 6 via Sugar Hill. Noted Decemberist and Death Cab for Cutie producer Tucker Martine is at the helm of the new project whose sound, according to Funk, “bridges the music of Clarence White and Ennio Morricone."

“The first gatherings were a little daunting as we were all used to the traditional song form,” Funk adds. “It’s been totally open-ended from day one, which is at times a little terrifying.” Of the debut's thirteen tracks, two are traditional covers including the haunting "Red Rocking Chair." We're particularly fond of the "Ostinato Del Caminito" a fascinating mashup and instrumental workout of Astor Piazzolla-styled tangos, dark gypsy violin shadings and plucked bluegrass runs. "We're trying to really keep the integrity of the acoustic aspect of it", notes Query, "so we don't really experiment with that. But otherwise it's no hold barred. With these five instruments, what can we do?" Recommended.

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Black Prairie - "Red Rocking Chair" (from Feast of the Hunters Moon)

Black Prairie - "Ostinato Del Caminito" (from Feast of the Hunters Moon)