Multitalented Tim Heidecker has a few great songs to his name and expands the setlist with Slipping Away. His work here is similar to that of Fear of Death, but without the upbeat notion. Things do not always work out. Self-reflection is our greatest tool and at some stages, the nightmare becomes real. Slipping Away has those tender horrors within some of its tracks but Heidecker does well to find the balance, that crucial split of living in the joy of the moment and the fear of hindsight. The fear of death was keeping him alive and now it is staring him in the face. Cold and brutal in parts, combatted with the tenderness of strong lyricism and the occasional instrumental flourish, Heidecker charts new and honest ground with Slipping Away.
He had to. The constant evolution of artist is on the line and for this piece of work, it means an assessment of the self. Honest country charms come through on opener and lead single Well’s Running Dry. The talk of being out of ideas is an idea in of itself and Slipping Away builds from this difficulty. It pairs nicely with the freedom and liberation of the mind heard on Trippin’ (Slippin’). Heidecker maintains a depth to what sounds like plucky and light pieces of work. But they are bold and ambitious materials which often stray into powerful hell disguised as optimistic outlooks. Slick guitar work is a revival of all which is great with guitar music and Slipping Away has plenty of this skilful instrumental experience. Well-layered throughout and the influences are telling, but Heidecker has an honest and moving spin on those who have kindled his desire to play and write.
Crucial to this is how consistent the theme and tone is. Memories captured and fed off of, to try and figure out where the joy of life comes from. It comes from the search, not the place. Something Somewhere is the best of the bunch – a wandering song where finding reason is the aim. But we find this when we do not look for it, and Heidecker does well to note this in the urgency of something, somewhere. It is the nonspecific appearances of something important in the future which are so sharply tuned here. Singing of something not yet happening is tricky and yet Heidecker writes and performs to a tremendous high. Haunting voices towards the end, and a slice of Last Night I Had a Dream towards the end make for a stunning moment on an album filled with intricate excellence. Those flickers of influence, the warm cynicism of Randy Newman paired with the tongue-in-cheek likes of Bows and Arrows is a delight.
A vulnerability heard in his earlier works takes centre stage on Slipping Away. The likes of Hey, Would You Call My Mom for Me have the dependable style and rambling traveller tale as an early Bob Dylan track. These are the words and works of a man with much to offer, and he does so with impressive instrumental style and formative lyrics. Slipping Away may worry about what the future holds without independence, without trust in the self to create great works, but it proves to be a brilliant launch pad for Heidecker, who grows into some of his very best works. A strong, consistent album of wandering through life, of finding reason when it is chasing right after you.
