The Land We Knew Best. Chris Eckman

Chris Eckman was the songwriter and male singer of Seattle band The Walkabouts and is active in music since the late 80s. I discovered the band in 1993 with the album 'New West Motel' and followed most of Eckman's career since. With The Walkabouts at some time he reached the point where the next album would contain near to total silence, as each album became quieter and quieter. Since 2005 volume came back but the band broke up after 2012 and a final tour. By then his solo career had already started.

With The Land We Knew Best Eckman releases a new solo album that has songs in a quite mode and in a moderate rock mode. Gone are the tough folk rockers of old, what remained is his songwriting skills and story telling. Love brought Chris Eckman to Ljubljana in Slovenia, where he lives with his family and recorded this album.

The Land We Knew Best tells stories of his adopted country. Where of old he was inspired by stories he heard on the road and the dusty towns along the American high and byways, now it is the Slovenian country side where he walks in the mountains and the countryside. Except for former Londoner Alastair McNeil who produced this album and the previous one 'Where The Spirit Rest' (2021) and who plays a host of instruments, all musicians are from the Ljubljana scene. Not that you notice that. This is a Chris Eckman album alright.

This has to do in part with his voice. That gravelly voice determines a large part of this being his album. Yet it is also in the atmosphere he creates with his songs. There's always a dreamy quality involved where his ballads are concerned. Just listen to 'Haunted Nights' to hear what I mean. It's on the one hand as if he's reaching for a place he just can't reach (yet) but on the other pointing me to that spot beyond the horizon where I can't go to. It creates a dream state where it is pleasant to be despite not being able to get to the destination. Longing to be there is enough listening to 'Haunted Nights'. It is one of the best songs on The Land We Knew Best. And that from the man who loves listening to 'Old Crow Lied' and 'Jack Candy'. To be fully truthful, 'Finlay's Motel' is another of my all time The Walkabouts favourite. That one is more in line with 'Haunted Nights'.

We are both getting on in life. 32 years is a long time since I discovered Chris Eckman's music and I'm still gladly following his career. With The Land We Knew Best he adds another fine album to his oeuvre. Yes, it's introspective for the most part but that makes it the more intriguing. With 'Last Train Home' he ends the album with an ultimate ballad. The song is so slow but sucks you in completely. You;re waiting for that last train home with him. Slow piano notes and slow strums is all this beautiful song need to excel. And that gravelly voice of course. That is Chris Eckman's signature.

I'm glad that it has not taken close to a decade for Chris Eckman to be able to release a new solo album. Yes, there were collaborations in between, but they are different from this. This is just him and after a slight hesitation during the first listening session, I dare to state: great album!

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order The Land We Knew Best here:

https://chriseckman.bandcamp.com/album/the-land-we-knew-the-best