It’s been called baroque, ambient, and psychedelic, but whatever it is, Thad Kopec’s style of songwriting cuts through the noise created by today’s two dimensional “indie folk” crowd. Immersing himself in a creative tradition of poetry and southern gothic literature, his lyrics build layers of imagery over complex orchestral arrangements and unique sonic collages that showcase a knack for songwriting talent and undeniably good aesthetic taste.
The Shadow & the Caster isn’t content to offer listeners anything other than total sonic immersion and its songs feel as unlimited and as expansive as the landscapes they often describe. In the literary vein of John Steinbeck or Flannery O’ Connor, much of the narrative and symbolic elements Kopec wields in his work center around the natural world and the descriptive nature of his language is undoubtedly born out of past experiences on a rural Florida farm.
In addition to the literary traditions the album keeps alive, it also displays a fondness for modern folk god influences like Fleet Foxes or Sufjan Stevens. He manages, however, to stay away from the caricatured second-generation style imitation that haunts indie folk today. Even Kopec’s voice feels entirely authentic with its relaxed disregard for being always perfectly pitched.
As a body of work, The Shadow & the Caster masterfully balances variety and elemental agreement. The songs all float down the same stream, and despite immediate twists and turns or sudden directional disorientation, every song comes out as a simple break in the current. All the water comes from the same source and goes to the same place.
Be sure to make it to Thad’s release show on Friday, May 12th at WELD Nashville and pick up a copy of the album. His live performances are magical.
-Andrew Strader