Zoe Boekbinder – Wildflower
Many writers may say this aggregation from the countryside of upstate New York is from the school of Adele. But this music style which Zoe Boekbinder mastered is from the school of Bird York (“In the Deep”) with a touch of Madeliene Peyroux (Ms. York has been singing this way since 1984).
Influenced or not, whether Bird York is even known to these musicians doesn’t matter. Their material is attractive in the same way. They add a generous amount of their original skills & stylings to the tonality utilized in each song & each maintains vocalizing beauty — warm, rural & smoky.
There are 13 exceptional songs on the Megan McCormick-produced Wildflower (Drops April 26/Are & Be Recordings/39:00) recorded in Nashville, TN. It has ample atmospheric intimacy in its original songs. Some gallop along (“Scared To Mess It Up”) while others are wispier & sensitive.
Regardless, the tunes have the necessary progressive-Americana exuberance that renders each their pensive yet riveting drift. Songs have intricate dabs of instrumentality & hocus pocus that make listening quite interesting (“Garden”). At best, the effort takes a shape wholly emotive & nimbly trips along (“More Like a Home”) with breathy sincere vibrancy. Pleasurable is the word I’m looking for.
The set isn’t like the standard commercial crackle that rollicks on the radio daily. These tunes are catchy & sophisticated & could miraculously shoulder their way through the muck that is contemporary mainstream music. There’s plenty of limitless vocal electricity but the current doesn’t fry the lines. It lights up a room with a soft-focus amber rather than fluorescence.
Songs like “I Tried To Be Good,” have an old-school easy listening approach. Since it features tickling banjo & lap steel guitar its middle-of-the-road temptation is distilled & a beautiful rootsy melody emerges.
The only spoiling factor (but not found on too many tunes) is the inclusion of old-hat-treated vocals, echo, or whatever it’s called today. It detracts from the rootsy-Americana feeling that is otherwise consistent in the album. These songs require their rootsy poignancy. The song “Supernatural” could’ve possessed a more persuasive fortitude without the effects.
The folky aspects of some compositions are well crafted. The songs are individualistic, always ripe with ideas & fluent vocals (“Where Time Is Free”).
Highlights – “Cover Up the Moon,” “Hold My Hand,” “Scared To Mess It Up,” “Garden,” “More Like a Home,” “I Tried To Be Good,” “Where Time Is Free” & “You Won’t Let Me Go.”
Musicians – Zoe (vocals/guitar), Megan (guitars/lap steel/harmony/whistle), Megan Coleman (drums/percussion), Ryan Madora (bass), Jordan Hamlin (piano/harmony/accordion) & Amanda Fields (harmony vocals).
Color image courtesy of Justin Nunnink. CD @ Apple Music & Amazon + https://zeoboekbinder.com/
Americana Highways Song Premiere: https://americanahighways.org/2024/03/11/song-premiere-zoe-boekbinder-mycelium/