Why Should the Fire Die?
Why Should the Fire Die? shows how much force three acoustic instruments can generate. Nickel Creek still play with speed and precision, but these darker songs ask for more than skill. Mandolin, fiddle and guitar create the tension together. Close vocal harmonies fill out the sound without making everything too smooth.
When In Rome opens uneasily, with crackle and stamping feet. Sara Watkins gives the fiddle an edge that fits the approach especially well. The band need little to sound threatening. Much of the rhythmic force comes from the way their individual parts push against each other.
On Scotch & Chocolate, a simple melody grows into a much more lively instrumental. The pleasure of playing remains clear even as the exchanges become complicated. Somebody More Like You finds a different kind of sharpness. Sean Watkins sings with restraint while the words prove considerably less friendly.
The middle of the record gives the darker atmosphere more room. Eveline uses carefully judged changes in volume and unusually heavy bass to enlarge the sound. Helena moves more openly towards rock, complete with drums. Both show that acoustic instruments provide possibilities rather than limitations here.
Not every song has the same immediate appeal. The beautiful harmonies and faultless playing can sometimes stay with you more clearly than the melody itself. Sara and Sean could also have taken more lead vocals; their voices provide a welcome alternative to Chris Thile.
The balance nevertheless produces plenty of strong moments. Nickel Creek loosen familiar structures while keeping their close interaction intact. Why Should the Fire Die? is an unsettled, driven record that uses its technical strengths to give the songs more character.
