There’s no better time of year if you’re into gothicana. Iris Marlowe delivers that in a big way on Where the Devil Bid the Owl Goodbye. This cowboy country album evokes campfires, open plains, fiery sunsets, and the treachery that lies therein.
Marlowe’s rugged voice suggests many miles traveled — whether on the asphalt ribbons that criss-cross the continent or the rougher traverses of the soul. She brings a world-weary flair to her songs, whether they’re the punchy rock’n’roll of “Stop Me Now,” which paints a picturesque story of lonely deserts and the dangers to your mortal soul that await there or “Cowboy Chords,” a sweet, solitary reprieve of melancholy regret.
Marlowe does a fair job of balancing the up-tempo with the slower stuff, but “Hunt You Down” feels like it’s the moment where the rock stuff hits. The song has an irresistible groove and the band is punchy and to the point. However, Marlowe’s strength lies in building atmosphere and this is shown to greater effect on her acoustic ballads, where her ghostly lyrics are front and center and you can feel yourself transported to a campfire. If that campfire is the setting for your next Midnight Society meetup or for cooking beans in a can on your next cross-country adventure…that one’s up to you. Just don’t scare yourself too much.