A. Lee Edwards – Interpreting Heart Sounds – Vol. 1
There have been many singer-songwriters in this tradition. Maybe they keep coming or have been sustained by the fact that they always seem to provide quality in their songs & keep it relatively honest. There’s been names we’ve known & some that aren’t so keen. Chip Taylor, Mickey Newbury, John Loudermilk & Jon Dee Graham join the more easily recognizable monikers like Townes van Zandt, John Prine, Guy Clark & Gordon Lightfoot.
The tunes here are originals but sound almost traditional, the words are homegrown tales from growing up in the fast lane to being a young man in orbit of competition to an elder statesman of the country air. A. Lee is close to John Prine in his ability to be a storyteller of simpler times with a pinch of humor & partaking of the grape.
In these 10 effortless slices of life Interpreting Heart Sounds – Vol. 1 (Drops July 19/You Know What? Records/34:45) was produced by Alan Lee Edwards & features some name musicians. It follows the embodiment of singer-songwriters as diverse as Luka Bloom, Eric Andersen, David Gates & Jerry Jeff Walker. Not as gruff as Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen vocally, & not too countrified despite the addition of country-inspired instrumentality Edwards seems to have taken a musical colander & tossed his ingredients up nicely in a folky country mix. Quite a likable quality.
Edwards meanders through his material without a care in the world. The players all perform in a relaxed style that doesn’t challenge the ear or stimulate the senses to analyze every word. Some of the most musical tunes are a bit eccentric – “Goats On the Ropes” reminds me of singers like Arlo Guthrie who had a strange sense of humor with some quirky topics.
Edwards would find a comfortable seat beside someone like the late David Olney, an interesting Americana-oriented singer-songwriter of the highest order. This is where Edwards would be most comfortable with a few swipes at Eric Bogle.
The rockiest Edwards gets is the ‘60s decorously attired “Get Out/Get In,” which is a pleasantly driving little tune with a nod to Marietta, GA’s ‘80s band Guadalcanal Diary lead vocalist Murray Attaway (“Little Birds,” “Pray For Rain”) in some spots. The musicians all resonate with the music recorded in Asheville, North Carolina. A satisfying set of music for sure.
Highlights – “Ride On,” “Move Up To The Mountain,” “Carolina Blue,” “John On the Run,” (features Richard Thompson on guitar), “Goats On Ropes,” “Get Out/Get In,” “Mexico” & “Shallow Ground.”
Musicians – Richard Thompson (guitar), Clive Gregson (guitar), Matthew Smith (pedal steel guitar/dobro/guitar), Ryan Stigmon (pedal steel/dobro/banjo), Julian Pinelli (fiddle), Zack Page (upright bass), Franklin Keel (cello) & Jim Brock (drums). Some musicians appear on Vol 2.
Color image courtesy of A. Lee’s Bandcamp. There’s an orange 4pp lyric insert included. CD @ Bandcamp + https://www.aleeedwards.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Bentley’s Bandstand: June 2024
