Record Review: Cumberland Honey - Sweet Talk
Full disclosure.
I’ve never seen Cumberland Honey play live.
I’ve seen three of the four members perform solo or with other groups, but not the unit of CH, straight up w/ no chaser.
I do not think I’ve ever seen Steph perform, though I’ve met her a few times. I did see Grace do a Gentle Thursday at Ploughman a few months ago, and she did great things with a resonator, played some originals and a covers…it was great.
I’ve seen Llew perform several times with a few different people, sometimes at the Open Mic at Ploughman with her honey and my friend, Rob Leib…also with Wild Hymns, which was pretty incredible. Llewyn amazes me with how she sings every time I see her. Makes me think of the wonderful old jazz and blues singers from the 40s and 50s. She is also my friend.
And Gena…well, I’ve already written about her. Just as one example, she played a set along side her honey (and also my friend) Peter Wile during Gettysburg Rocks last time, and even though it was inside, she rocked the whole damn square. No surprise. She can rock a room like BB king, or she can sit back and groove the place as well. Along with the superhuman Bob Sushko, she is among the best bluesmen I’ve had the pleasure to know.
Anyway, all that to say, I can’t review their live act, but knowing who’s in the band, I was looking forward to this album since I heard about it a few months ago. Armed with the music (virtually) in hand, I parked myself and just read a book while I listened to it. Then listened to it again while mowing the lawn (Beats over-ear rules. Ipod is for chumps)
Finally, with an actual CD, Grant and I settled on the couch to work our way through. He’s been listening to a lot of outlaw country lately, I’ve been leaning toward early Miles…so out heads are coming into this from different angles.
We start off with “Morning Light”, a toe tapper country song with some beautiful pedal steel to kick off, and tremendous harmonies. I’m going to have to gird my loins and prepare for a lot of harmony on this ride. For reasons unclear to me, Grant tends to try to sing along with slide guitar. Go figure; he’s a big Gena fan I guess. This is a gorgeous Grand Old Opry type of song
The next song (one of two written by Grace Mahar, we’re told), “No Good for Me”. This has that harmonic, almost hymnal groove to it… Grace’s voice sits on top, and the harmonies roll through… great lyrics, soft rhythms. Like a sipping whiskey.
Another music writer worth his salt would have already pointed out that Steph Landis, the upright bass player of this quartet, wrote all-but-two of the songs on this album. Steph seems to write in an old-school country way up to this point, with the ability to incorporate the strengths of the group. The harmonies are on point, and having Gena and Grace on guitars is a pretty damn good toolbox. She knows what she’s doing.
The next song up “Long Time Coming” is a good example of that. Wonderful bouncy and sad country song in the way they can be when they’re done best.
Following up, “River” is a deep harmony song with some wonderful harp from Llewyn Malick, who sings like she should live in a damn conservatory. This song reminded me of early Eagles, and Grant and I were toe-tapping and I caught myself making that weird face I make when I’m listening to interesting harmonica.
The next one, “Soul to Call Home” reminds very much when I heard recordings of early Mahalia Jackson. That divine/profane things that was so prevalent in old blues and early new orleans funeral nocturnes. Again, great harp and slide, and some of those exotic old school things Gena plays…irish bouzouki, I think. I thought I may be making that up, but, nope…that’s what it says on the liner.
After that, we get to “The Sea”, the leading single from this album and the other song written by Grace Maher…it opens with a gorgeous guitar solo layered on top of some wonderful lap steel. Then Llew comes in layering the harp just before the vocals kick in. It’s beautifully arranged, and Grace’s haunting voice pushes it forward. I can’t think of who it reminds me of…maybe Patty Loveless? Grant thinks it’s got some acoustic-end Kate Bush in it, but I don’t hear that. Love that sad but driving rhythm.
Next up is “Easy Love”, or as comes to mind to me… “if CSNY were women” Freakin’ love it… I listened to it twice through. This is some high end melody and harmony. RIP David Crosby, I’ll be listening to your stuff later tonight now. I probably don’t need to point this out to you, but holy shit with gena and Grace tossing this back and forth. Man, I gotta see these ladies live!
“Hurt This Much” is another example of Gena and Grace flat out bringing it on a resonator and what I can only assume is a straight-from-the-eye-of-god Telecaster. The lyrics are gorgeous and I love the jump-in harmonies. This was Grant’s favorite, though I have to say when he chimed in, he tended to come in a little sharp.
Finally, appropriately enough, we get “Goodbye to You” some sweet straight up country blues, with those wonderful lyrics you get from the old time country singers…
“sure, I love you too…but I aint gonna wait around until she leaves you”
“If I keep on swimming here, I’m gonna drown…”
This is a very professional and sophisticated album on all levels. The songwriting takes forms and spins them up to accomplish some great original sounds. Steph and Grace both have a blues/country vibe and know very well how to make use of the incredible talents of this band.
Their first single comes out on Friday, May 8, and the album is available for pre-order. They tend to play live a little north of Gettysburg, but it’s just my laziness that’s led me not to catch them yet. Be better than me! Get out there and check them out.