Pat Berlinquette – Kinder To Be Cruel
Pat Berlinquette has a new album Kinder To Be Cruel, produced by Kenny Siegal (Langhorne Slim) and featuring Jared Samuel (Sean Lennon), Jesse Martin (Norah Jones), a track with John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful) and more. Based in New York, Berlinquette’s songwriting merges a moving, dynamic energy with probing topics in an amalgam of Americana and roots rock styles. Pat was inspired to write more than 5 dozen songs while his mother was ill, a poignant source of raw inspiration you can feel immediately in the results.
“Gloria” starts with a voice in the studio saying “maybe this one could start with a drum groove,” and it does just that, with scattered embellishments of flute, before the songs opens up to a full on wah – wah groove with horns. A song about blended relations in the shadow of the old church.
“Cavern Song” sets up with tambourine and strings, as a mid tempo celebration – of the mortuary, and comes across like a 70s Rolling Stones style breakdown. “Generation” keeps a groovy, subtle blues rhythm going with hearty harmonica.
“Obvious World” is a hips shaking celebration, a stepped up rhythm and some reggae overtones and an innovative vocal arrangement and take-off harmonies and interspersed piano melody lines.
“Babe in the Woods” takes a different turn, with a hushed opening and clear vocals, with power harmonica by John Sebastien. “Me and My Best Friend” has a sweet set-up with acoustic guitar and is a folk song with “do do do” parts and a jaunty tale about a bike in front of a florist’s, peel off tattoos, a lack of basements and generational trauma.
This album displays a unique style – experimental with serious grooves, horns, string, harmonicas and sometimes spoken word style vocals and other times full on singing, with touches of high notes and almost reggae, island styles at times. Lyrically the songs touch on deep core human connections through family and friendships within the long shadow of mortality.
Musicians on the album are Pat Berlinquette on vocals and acoustic guitar; Jesse Murphy (Norah Jones) on bass; Jared Samuel (Sean Lennon) on piano; Connor Grant on guitar; Brian Geltner on drums; John Sebastian on harmonica; Jay Collins and Chris Pasin on horns; Kaia Dedek, Calder Mansfield, and Michaela Hendrickson on backing vocals; Lee Falco on percussion; and Kurt Johnson on slide guitar.
All songs and lyrics are by Pat Berlinquette
Find more details and music here: https://solo.to/berlinquette
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Song Premiere: “Old New York”
The album was produced by Kenny Siegal; engineered by Matthew Cullen; mixed by Paul Kolderie; and mastered by Greg Calbi. It was recorded at Old Soul Studios. Artwork for the album was crafted by dipdripper with design by Christine Berlinquette.
