Betwixt's second album,
The Salty Tang, spices the group's alternative rock sound with winding, vaguely Old World-inspired melodies and arrangements, as well as with ethereal, slightly sinister female vocals. The band's best rock songs, such as the cello-driven gypsy-grunge of "Mosquito Bites" and the loping, klezmer-tinged "Sound of America," manage to be both dynamic and sophisticated, while the gentle yet disturbing "Needlessness" and the similarly hypnotic "Back of a Hand" hint at their softer side. Though their style might seem somewhat limited, the group branches out into more straightforward rock on "Spencer For Hire," pretty, dreamy pop on "Stop-N-Start," and arty instrumental territory on "Melvin Belron's Wedding." While some of their songs tend to be a little too long, and their mix of ethnic and rock elements isn't always seamless,
Betwixt is an ambitious group with a lot of potential. Though
The Salty Tang is something of an acquired taste, it's one that's not hard to develop.