Sweet Joe Pye – Rises Early
The Americana trio hailing from the Netherlands Sweet Joe Pye has a new EP Rises Early, and the three songs truly are sweet. The EP was recorded by Daniel Mizrahi in Paris, France. It was produced by Annick Odom, Henri Colombat, and Lucas Henri; and engineered, mixed and mastered by Henri Colombat.
On the first song, “Blote Voeten & Blue Crab,” the banjo is deeply resonant and, although it’s sung in Flemish, the mournful sounds carry the feeling through: ” we walk through the street barefoot/ we feel the rocks, glass and all the rubbish / but it’s not about what we feel anymore, it is too late.” If you don’t speak Flemish, the music is rich, melodious and old timey goodness just the same.
“Moonwalk” is sung in English and the music is full-bodied, vibrant, old-time Appalachia inspired: “I’m standing in my classroom, you’re dancing across the floor, this is how I see you, moonwalking in the hall…” The tale of an unmitigated tragedy, a child lost too soon to a bullet, and the music carries you through the processing of this person’s memories, something unnatural we ought not to have to do.
“Rise Early & Sweet Joe Pye” addresses the way we’ll work all day just to hold our loved on at night to stave off the fears about the world that are reborn again the next day: “So I’ll rise early in the morning and I’ll stay out late at night / I’ll work hardest in the daytime for the chance to hold you tight / Well there’s something ‘bout there’s something ‘bout oblivion….”
This is a sweet EP with exactly the kind of old-timey music we long to hear most especially in summertime. Musicians on the album are Annick Odom on vocals, guitar, and fiddle; Henri Colombat on guitar and mandolin; and Lucas Henri on guitar, banjo and bass.
You can find info and the music here on Bandcamp: https://sweetjoepye.bandcamp.com/album/rise-early