You might not be totally aware of it but chances are you’ve encountered Robert Earl Thomas before. Perhaps most recently as a member of folk-influence experimental pop outfit Vensaire but maybe even more famously as one half of the guitar duo that is Widowspeak. Well, it seems like laying down shreddy riffs in two rather eclectic sounding bands wasn’t enough for him as Thomas has a solo project up his sleeve. Enter Mustang. There’s not a whole lot of hullaboo being made about the project, and I wouldn’t really have found out about t if not for the promotion of Vensaire but Mustang is here and Mustang is wonderful.
Mustang’s “Little Bighorn” features Thomas in a new role as singer/songwriter flexing his smoky vocals over the track’s dusky, folk ramble. It’s minimalist and retro without trying to access the coolness of either of those things as some acts are wont to do. There’s a paltry psychedelic sheen and a climactic amount of fuzz but other than that it’s a rather straight forward plod down the old dusty trail. “Little Bighorn” is a slow-burner, reminiscent of vaqueros at high noon without any of the camp.
Here’s hoping Robert Earl Thomas isn’t too busy with his two bands to offer up some more Mustang jams and soon.
