“I just want this record to do well,” he says without irony, sipping coffee near the still-not-open venue. “I want to pay that money back. I also want to do something bigger than Ann Arbor or Ypsi. … I get crowded into the Michigan indie folk scene a lot,” he continues, and then he finishes the thought as if he scorched his tongue on the hot liquid, “I love it, but …”
That’s how ended this cinematographic review of Matt Jone’s first full length The Black Path from Brian Smith, editor on the Metro Times ( read the ful review here).
I know you lazzy-click so the link will be paste later down this short modest and encore review. Another article about the black path ? Yes, for sure, this Matt Jones is rich enough to gifted us million dollars spreading his music all day long on this blog.
How really rich is this mattjonespainting ? Rich enough to blow you away from start to end in this 45 minutes session : from the battling Threadlines intro to the perfect soft-sorrrowful Nothing Joyful closing tune ; an abundant set of unique blend of poetries, paintings, crossing borders, fronting and facing cliches.. to you to pick and choose its resilience, and few chances you won’t be untouched from his art at a very first note.
Isn’t it richness : Painting stories over melodies, serving floating spaces in both timeline and mapline to the completion of our unfulfilled, unsatiable minds. What an achievement is this eleven songs collection : it’s still blowing me away… The fact that expression could merge so many facets from an artist in a perfect oeuvre ; joining and translating all those forces : qualities and weaks. Rich once again, you are Mr Jones !
Sam Corbin with Jen Sygit at Scene Metrospace – East Lansing, MI
It’s been a long time that I didn’t introduce any artist from Michigan : Sam Corbin is the one we’re going to listen tonight. Do you remember The Stranglers ? Hum… I’m a fan. From the unforgettable 96 tears with the ‘Too many tear drops for one heart to be crying… ‘ to ‘La Folie’ through beautiful melodies suchs as Northwind blowing, the unsane ‘Let Me introduce you to my Family’, the famous ‘Always the sun’ – well I’m not here, at least not today, to drive you back in the 80s Stranglers glorious… – and also my favorite ‘Golden Brown’.
And here’s the point. While I was crawling deeply the web, I took a long deep and peaceful pause as soon as I’ve been caught by this song’s title ‘Golden Brown‘ : It was a month ago, on Sam Corbin’s myspace playlist the last track. How to resist giving a try : who dare covering such a gem ? Sam’s version is far from the Barrel Organ sounds of the Stranglers… but with an amazing finger-picking style he released a prowess delivering a sweet acoustic version of this untouchable song !
I was a click-away from a superb album : Goodnight Candlelight. The opening banjo-driven ‘Twenty three’, the ‘Masterpiece’ – which needs no other adjective – , ‘Dictator’ … Theses 3 intro songs are absolutely fantastic and so many albums will never reach this density… Including the ‘Golden Brown’ cover, the 6 other tracks, of this 10 (hum everything is fine Mr Alzheimer ! count on the hidden track ) songs collection are all deserving at least my 4 stars rating and an absolute 5 stars for the instrumental ‘Nothing to say’ !
Sam released his first full-length album “Goodnight Candlelight” in 2006, choosing a minimalist approach of mostly acoustic guitar and vocals. He recorded the album in his basement near Lansing, MI, with help from singer/songwriter Jen Sygit adding hints of Banjo, Uke, and vocal harmonies. In the fall of 2008 Sam will release his second full-length album, bringing to the lineup some of Michigan’s finest musicians! …
… In 2008 Sam teamed up with percussionist Billy Harrington. Playing on a single snare drum, Billy brought a whole new sound to the equation. Together, their songs travel from a soft whisper, to the rumbling drive of a freight train.
I didn’t get time to contact Sam in time (!!!), so I can’t confirm that the track ‘Kalamazoo‘ will appear on his sophomore -haha learning slowly… – album but if it’s a cover (shame on me for this lack of information) or a song of his own : it’s a ‘cracker’ !!! But no matter, Goodnight Candlelight could loop for a full year and more !
I’ve bought Orpheum Bell, first full length at the essential cdbaby.com a minute after streaming their first songs from their myspace page. Pretty as You, is both the album title and the intro track. It’s an irresistible banjo soft-ballad served by a great balanced vocal female/male duet.
Burned my fields and the red wind blows
Drowned my diamonds in the river below
Lit my tears and the flames burned blue …
Ain’t none of that as pretty as you
Words and Tones have been thrown… Welcome to the Orpheum Bell’s music world. Labeled as ‘Country and Eastern’, the Ann Arbor Quintet’s compositions are giving the listener this unique ubiquity gift in both time and place spaces ! From almost traditional country-ballads to gypsy waltzes, from the raspy vocals of Aaron Klein (à la Stuart Staples), to Merrill Hodnefield sweet – sweet and so beautifully placed – voice, for sure, you’re traveling with a first-class ticket !
With a huge amount of instruments ( accordion, banjo, clarinet, fiddle, guitar, ukulele, autoharp, double bass, mandolin, pedal steel, musical saw, and the rare Tiebel Violine, that looks something like a cross between a fiddle and an Edison-era phonograph ), you’ll have to face a real full band, giving to each notes a meaningful rhythm in some delicious instrumental tracks such as ‘Motor in the Weeds’ or ‘Two Over Ten’.
Along with Aaron Klein (vocals, banjo, ukuleles, tenor & regulation guitars), Serge van der Voo (double bass and percussion) is forming the heart of Orpheum Bell. Serge has granted us an interview. Enjoy our conversation while listening to two of our favorites tracks including the brand new duet ‘Goodbye is the Sweetest Word’ and the addictive ‘Pretty as You’.
YCD : Hello Serge, how’s it going ? Serge van der Voo : I’m well, thank you……..just gotta say up front that I really enjoy visiting your website…….it’s the real deal and always INTERESTING to read and listen to.
YCD : Thanks ! What’s the story behind Orpheum Bell? Serge van der Voo : Aaron Klein (songwriter, vocals/guitars) and I met about 10 years ago, we’re both from the same area in Michigan but we crossed paths in Chicago where we started writing and recording with a band called Vernal Pool. Years later we found ourselves back in Michigan living just a couple of blocks appart. Merrill Hodnefield (lead vocals) responded to a “seeking vocalist” add that we had pinned-up at a coffee house………needless to say when we heard her voice and influences all three of us knew we had a band right then and there. Annie Crawford (violins) and Shaun Williams (accordion and reeds) fully round-out and complete the sounds we’re looking for. Our debut cd ‘Pretty as You’ was released last year and now we’re about halfway into recording a new one.
YCD : I’m really curious – and ignorant – : would you mind telling us about the band name ? Serge van der Voo : We were trying to find the right net for our particular butterfly…
YCD : You’ve mentioned the Quintet of the Hot Club of France – with most renowned members incuded Djando Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli – as a main influence. From ‘Gipsy Jazz’ to ‘Country and Eastern’, what’s the process that creates such a singular music style ? Serge van der Voo : Sheesh…….if that process was to be presented in some kind of diagramatic form it would probably look like a tangled-up ball of yarn!!! Yeah, listening to any of Django’s Q.H.C.F from the ’30′s moves me everytime……..then you add all the members influences and that’s when it starts to rattle.
YCD : Which song from Aaron Klein’s lyrics is your favorite? Serge van der Voo : ‘Rabbit Field’ has always been a favorite of mine. For me, the imagery totally fits with the music. There are some that will be on the new release which in my opinion are just as poetic……..’Pearls‘ and ‘Goodbye is the Sweetest Word‘ come to mind.
YCD : If you could share a stage with any band or artist who would you choose and why ? Serge van der Voo : Whoa…….there’s so many bands so here it goes…..Rob Burger, Andrew Bird, Tin Hat, A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Marc Ribot, Benjamin Wetherill, and Rollie Tussing too. They all create music with effortless flow among genres. I like music that you can’t quite put your finger on….. it’s a good thing………that’s what makes music personal.
YCD : According to your myspace blog Orpheum Bell is working on a second album ? Serge van der Voo : Yes, we’re working with Jim Roll and about half of the songs have been recorded already, the other half are in the process of being written/arranged. This one will be different then “Pretty as You” given that (so far) there are several songs that were written as a group collaborative.
YCD : Any other projects for the coming months ? Serge van der Voo : Matt Jones has a new recording coming out soon called ‘The Black Path’ and he asked me to put down double bass on several tracks. The arrangements are lush and full with strings and horns, Jim also recorded that one and the production came out nicely. Matt’s a prolific songwriter so when we play live he has a rock (electric) set but then also his full acoustic set with a ten-piece band. It’s been a lot of fun so far and we’ve got some exciting shows coming up in the fall with the Great Lakes Myth Society.
Thank you so much Serge for taking time to answer !
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YCD : Hello Serge, how’s it going ?
