When it comes to an album that truly challenges the most basic structuring around what an album can attempt to be, look no further than poet and Sasquatch enthusiast Marty Achatz’s collaboration with Streaking In Tongues’ in the new book-album-spoken poetry hybrid released under the name Slow Dancing With Bigfoot. Constructed of song titles as eccentric as “A Pig’s Orgasm Lasts 30 Minutes” and “Bigfoot Takes His Wife to Mount Rushmore for Their Honeymoon,” there’s honestly nothing I’ve ever heard that comes as close to the ambitiously hilarious, and yet deeply heartfelt, work seen here from Achatz and Streaking In Tongues, and the ambition feels only fully achievable by the partnership as the guitar work and atmospheric, musical dronings work in tandem with Achatz’s lofty poetry and raise it towards something one of a kind.
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The overall characterization of Bigfoot within the project is the likes of something that has never really been tackled as far as imagery of the cryptid goes in other popular releases; the soft, human approach to a character often discussed as a monster or villain of mythology will resonate deeply with listeners and readers, and the musical accompaniment only heightens such emotions. “Bigfoot Tries to Fix His Daughter’s Broken Heart” is a particular high point from Achatz’s poetic lyricism, and the overall focus on the scenes within each track feels fully lived in. The cinematic quality put on full display will engross audiences and those enjoying it on a purely auditory level will feel compelled to find themselves a copy of the book so they can revisit the ambitiously comfortable and experimental reconsideration of what a successful album can accomplish, even what might seem to be the silliest song titles and initial concept when taken at face value.
Marty Achatz is no newcomer to the world of poetry, and those who hear him reciting his resoundingly moving pieces of writing will recognize this instantly. Fans will be well aware, but Achatz is the current Poet Laureate of the Upper Peninsula, and his work here only proves why. There’s a beautiful side of humanity explored in all of his words, even (especially) when the central focus of the pieces are a semi-nonexistent creature of myth. As often as the album could take low-hanging fruit along its journey, it never does and achieves great heights because of such lofty swings. “Elephants Are the Only Animals That Cannot Jump Or, An Elephant Leap of Faith” feels like something out of the catalog of Sufjan Stevens, funnily enough, as Stevens’ album Michigan even tackles the subject matter of the Upper Peninsula.
There’s a shared texture between Achatz’s poetry and the soft, intricate work of Streaking In Tongues; the fact that the music is performed by a father-son duo lends itself to such sensitivities, and the years-long process of getting the project off of the ground as stated on Achatz’s blog gives Slow Dancing With Bigfoot a uniquely personal angle. There’s nothing like Slow Dancing With Bigfoot, both when it comes to this incredible little piece of poetry and music… and literally slow dancing with Bigfoot. You’ll never forget either if you’re lucky enough to experience them.