Emilie Clepper – The Family Album (featuring Russell Clepper)
Emilie Clepper has released a new album honoring her father, Texas native and singer songwriter Russell Clepper (Porch Brothers). Emilie resides in Quebec City, having lived as a child between Quebec and Texas, she creates a blend of old world local and Texas folksy musical styles.
The Family Album (featuring Russell Clepper) was produced by Joe Grass and highlights songs written by Russell that were foundational childhood inspirations for Emilie.
The album starts off with “Someplace Like Heaven,” launching the album in shadowy music with some low shadowy vocals by Emilie. Growing more powerful and stronger, the song references “Mexican nights with no end” and adds mournful accordion and violin in turns, and the trailer camp surrounded by dust in the wind.
“Texas Sunshine” sets up an upbeat “I’ll bring you some bluebonnet flowers, a bouquet in sweet springtime, to put in your window in your home by the river where the Texas sun shines.” The song is a timeless love song “love is a way that you live,” and the music is all Texan with gentle harmonies by Russell on the choruses.
Early release “Pablo’s Mandolin” is a loping Western song “Pablo play your mandolin, if you ever quit playin’ this world just might end.” What sounds like pedal steel and baritone guitar summon up some more Western foreboding.
“La Valse à Gaétan,” sung in French, is the Gaétan waltz, lovely and rich with violin.
“Streets of Quebec” is a little bit darker with Emilie’s vocals at a lower register with shuffly rhythms, touches of old worldly accordion, and a “every now and then I remember when we walked those narrow streets.”
“Steal My Car” is another swingy “I never said you could steal my car” and a song of someone who’s gone too far and really crossed some lines.
The accordion throughout lends both Southern and old worldly influences simultaneously, even as the songs are all Southwestern sunbaked. Musicians on the album are Emilie Clepper on vocals and acoustic guitar; Russell Clepper on vocals; Joe Grass on guitars; Joel Savoy on violin (Grammy Winner – Best Regional Roots Music Album); Liam O’Neil on drums; Morgan Moore on bass; John Sadowy on piano and Pete Weiss on accordion with Sarah Dial Primrose and Mo Pair on harmonies. The album was mixed by Warren C. Spicer.
Find more details here on her website: https://www.emilieclepper.ca/