Durham, NC band Bombadil are back with a new album called All That The Rain Promises. If you had the honor of hearing the band’s previous LP, Tarpits And Canyonlands, you’ll have an idea of what to expect. Bombadil creates an off-beat approach to folk-pop with odd lyrics and a unique songwriting style. You definitely get that on the new album.

One moment filled with life and full-blown instrumentation, Bombadil is just as apt to drop the bottom out for a harmony four-part a capella. “Leather Belt” and “I Will Wait” both start in this manner, while tracks like “Laundromat” and “On Whole Year” bring out heavier instrumentation fronted by catchy folk-pop vocals.

All That The Rain Promises came out this week on Ramseur Records.

Listen: “Laundromat” by Bombadil

Listen: “Leather Belt” by Bombadil

There are a lot of swirling sounds within Bombadil‘s Tarpits And Canyonlands. On one end it is minimalistic — stripped to its most basic components, “Sad Birthday” is piano and percussion with a slew of vocalists. But it’s not minimal, as even two instruments can create a sound all-encompassing. Add the collective of vocalists and precisely placed hand claps and the result is a sound much like that of Slaraffenland. But Bombadil cannot be limited to mere comparisons — the light instrumentation and experimental folk sounds they dabble in are truly their own.

As Tarpits And Canyonlands continues, the listener is left speechless. “Honeymoon” is astonishing in its ability to entrance the listener, and as it comes to a climactic end, “Reasons” begins with a soft, finger-plucked guitar and emotive harmony folk vocals. Once again: aghast at the power each song holds. The high points are many — “So Many Ways To Die”, “Oto The Bear”, “25 Daniels”, and, of course, all the aforementioned.

Bombadil has created an album that defies tradition. Tarpits And Canyonlands is archaic yet undoubtedly modern. There’s an ancient sound hiding within the vocals and the make-up of each song at the most rudimentary of levels. Yet Bombadil has deconstructed the folk genre and pieced together something that is definitely unique, adding a hint of pop, orchestration, and anthemic experimentation. This album is an absolute must-hear.

Bombadil recently visited Daytrotter. Click the link to hear and download that session…

Ramseur Records [CD, 2009]

1. I Am
2. Sad Birthday
3. Honeymoon
4. Reasons
5. Cold Runway
6. Oto The Bear
7. Prologue
8. So Many Ways To Die
9. Marriage
10. Laurita
11. Kuala Lumpur
12. Pyramid
13. 25 Daniels
14. Matthew
15. Kate And Kelsey