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The Orange County Register, Orange County CA
November 20, 1993

by Jeff Niesel

A MYSTICAL BAND OF BOOKWORMS

A romantic outlook, love of books and artistic sensibility make Over the Rhine a group with a difference.

Although the anger and alienation expressed by bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam may be the latest rage, Over the Rhine bassist and songwriter Linford Detweiler doesn't think his band's sparse, romantic music is an anachronism.

On "Patience," the group's major-label debut, Over the Rhine exhibits an attention to detail and artistry that seems out of place given the cynicism of most new rock acts.

"Music for me has always been an absurd outlet for anger or apathy," Detweiler said from his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. "For me music was always something fairly mysterious and subversive, and a lot of musicians I was exposed to while growing up were classical musicians. I can appreciate guitar-oriented rock, but I guess I had a sense that we could well be out of step with what was happening today.

"But I like the idea of introspection, a highly-stylized approach, a poetic flair and a sensitivity to timeless beauty."

Over the Rhine was formed in the spring of 1991 and independently released the album "Til We Have Faces." Its initial release generated so much interest that the band opened a few Mid-west dates for Bob Dylan and toured more extensively with guitarist Adrian Belew. "Patience" was released the following year.

Since being signed by IRS Records, the group has recently re-released the album. Given the band's limited resources, the recording of "Patience" was not an easy task. Yet the money-saving measures actually contribute to the album's appeal.

Using a friend's studio during off-hours, "Patience" was recorded in Nashville in the middle of the night. The result is that lead singer Karin Bergquist's ethereal vocals and the folk-oriented music have a mystical edge similar to what the Cowboy Junkies achieved on their heralded debut.

"Obviously, we are not the first musicians to record at night, but showing up in a strange city to start to record at 10 at night and to finish up when the sun was coming up, created something mysterious about the whole process," he said.

The tender harmonies on "Patience" are not necessarily indicative of the band's true sound.

Detweiler said one reason the guitars are downplayed so much is simply because the group had trouble mixing the instruments. He stressed that the band may not take the same path in the future.

"Some of our new material is not as soothing, although it is certainly not grunge. Hopefully it will be able to kick someone in the shins sonically and emotionally in a friendly way," he said.

"Part of the quietness on "Patience" was the fact that we were recording it ourselves and we could not get guitar sounds that didn't sound like they were being played under water. We couldn't give the guitars a lot of life.

"It's not to say that we disliked the project, but we are willing to let it grow from here. I'm anxious to continue experimenting in the studio."

In a world of disposable pop-culture products, Over the Rhine also stands out because of its commitment to details. The booklet that comes with the compact disc is a work of art in itself, featuring artsy black-and-white photographs and copies of wood cuts that resemble medieval manuscript illuminations more than liner notes for a rock album. Detweiler said the intention is to reveal the band's bookworm aesthetic sensibilities.

"We did want to reflect the fact that we are avid book people in the presentation of the band. Everything we send out that is relevant to Over the Rhine we try to make into a tiny bit of art," Detweiler said. "We don't own a computer, and we try to keep the feel of a cottage industry. I'm not interested in making a rock video, but I would be interested in working with a filmmaker whose work I admire. That's the philosophy I want to adhere to."

Detweiler also said the band, which has "discovered that book collecting is an antidote to touring," has been influenced by a number of literary figures. Guitarist Ric Hordinski admires American poet TS Eliot, Bergquist is a fan of the German writer Rainer Maria Rilke and Detweiler upholds Welsh writer Dylan Thomas, whose work he calls "magical, rhythmic, infinitely-layered, and full of music."

Thomas' influence can be heard on songs such as "Jacksie," "I've Been Slipping" and "I Painted My Name." Although these tracks touch on unrequited love, Detweiler doesn't see himself as a hopeless romantic.

"Part of all that is a metaphor for aspirations and dreams," he said. "I guess growing up in a fairly secluded environment, if you have a desire to be creative, there is a desire to find an audience. A lot of the love songs are metaphors for trying to discover a life with which I can be satisfied."