The blending of neo-acoustic-folk with British-rooted indie dance styles has become a way of life for the likes of Beth Orton, and few artists have so subtly executed the approach as beautifully and purely as Whales' David Gray. With his own label, Iht, he has quietly fleshed out an international following for himself within the ever colorful indie universe. The most recent chapter in Gray's history has involved pop star Dave Mathews, an ardent fan who, upon hearing that Gray was releasing a new album in 1999, quickly approached the artist about signing him to his own label, ATO Records. And so, Gray's fourth record, White Ladder was again released, by ATO in 2000.
Subtle, haunting, and confessional, White Ladder features achingly sad folk melodies strummed on an acoustic over electronic, trip-hop beats. At times these beats are pulsating, and intense, such as in "Please Forgive Me", at other times they are ice cool and bass-heavy, as in "We're Not Right". But the guitar is always complacent and weeping, and Gray's somewhat "Dylan-esque" vocals lament, barely etching out the gleaming little melodies. Faint hooks and techno bleeps ring out on rare occasions, like the last sparks