Ordinary Elephant – Ordinary Elephant
What’s immediately captivating about this release is that though it’s rooted in a bluegrass banjo showcase on “Once Upon a Time,” singer Crystal Hariu-Damore sings in a rock n’ roll style with her intonation & phrasing. It’s far closer to early Grace Slick than Iris DeMent. However, Crystal does possess a rich rural tone & that makes all the difference. The husband & wife duo pack a consistent punch in their melodies & performance. There’s nothing so traditional as to turn off a city listener. The songs are well-recorded & exuberant.
On the songs “The Prophet,” & “Midlife” there’s a wispier approach, somewhat in a Melanie Safka style that was applied in a more British folky rendition by Lick the Tins’ Alison Marr on her cover of Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling In Love” that presented the tune cleverly in a Celtic folk genre.
That’s where this duo resides. Their showcase has a traditional thread, but they sing with such a well-crafted intimacy that modernizes the sound & makes it all the more attractive to a juvenile ear. There are 14 snapshots on this Louisiana duo’s Ordinary Elephant (Drops May 3/Berkalin Records/52:00) produced by Dirk Powell.
Back to that Crystal rock n’ roll vocal style in a traditional-sounding tune, she makes “Joy Has Not Forgotten Me,” an exceptional performance. Subtle Pete Damore banjo lays down a beautiful accompaniment. Together they sing & play unified at a convincing level with their cohesive original material. Nothing sounds aged or vintage.
Their sound is from the same conventional innovative showcase as Chicago’s Sons of the Never Wrong (“Queen Of Today”) – while a little fatter in sound the female vocals are complimentary the same way Crystal displays. I find them both interesting & bristling artists.
Despite the spare instrumentation, each song sounds full enough & never thin. As a duo their vocalizing & playing has a tailored grace. Pristine voices & sensitive songs are implemented with skill. They understand what their lyrics mean & they emphasize what is required. “Walk With You,” is one such example. The duo straddles the folk idiom with their traditional harmony mannerisms. All well produced & attractive.
Highlights – “Once Upon a Time,” “The Prophet,” “Midlife,” “Joy Has Not Forgotten Me” & “Walk With You.”
Musicians – Crystal (vocals/guitar), Pete (vocals/banjo/octave mandolin) & Dirk Powell (piano).
A handsomely stitched color 16pp lyric insert is included. The color CD photography courtesy of Olivia Luz Perillo.
CD @ Bandcamp + https://www.ordinaryelephant.net/store/ordinary-elephant-cd-preorder-2024 & https://www.berkalinrecords.com/ordinary-elephant