Antifogmatic
A banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and double bass could make a very familiar bluegrass record. On Antifogmatic, Punch Brothers use that line-up to explore much more. A song can move from quiet folk into fast, closely linked instrumental parts without losing its shape. Beneath the complicated arrangements, there are voices, melodies and stories that need no technical explanation.
You Are makes a strong opening. The singing initially has plenty of space, before the instruments and Chris Thile's high voice lift the music. The contrast works because the players do not all compete for attention at once. The quieter Missy shows how much the group can achieve through restraint. These players know how to impress, but they also understand when a song needs less.
Rye Whiskey brings out the pleasure in their playing together. Its lively fiddle gives the music momentum as the arrangement takes unexpected turns. Welcome Home builds tension differently. Forceful passages give way to a much thinner sound before the pace rises again. Those changes belong to the story of the song. They do more than demonstrate what five skilled musicians can play.
Me and Us takes longer to work through its feelings. Next to the Trash offers a looser, almost singalong country waltz in response. Producer Jon Brion keeps the instruments clear and leaves room for the voices. Even the busiest passages remain easy to follow.
Antifogmatic rewards attention, especially when several ideas share one arrangement. There is usually something immediately appealing beneath that detail. The playing is impressive, but the warmth and unusual character of the songs give the album its lasting value.
