Tin Roof Echo – Flowers Falling
Pockets of North Carolina contain magical cauldrons of quality Americana music, and the latest album to come bubbling up is Tin Roof Echo’s Flowers Falling, which is grounded by Joe Hooten, and here includes Drive-By Truckers’ Jay Gonzalez on B3 and saw, Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers on banjo, musical contributions by producer Kevin Boggs, pedal steel by Matthew Smith (Amy Ray), and backing vocals by David Childers and Dulci Ellenberger.
Joe Hooten, leader and songwriter for the outfit, writes songs about the depths your mind mines late at night – the fears and the worries and the visions for what ought to be different. Songs about the fate of the world, the rush of time, and the need to hang on with a positive vision after all is said and done, emerge here.
“Everything That’s Green” opens with the instruments gradually joining in together, rising, and rallying around the song, with a chilling refrain: “here’s my warning today.” “Space 4 U and Me” is a plea to rejuvenate a connection and hoping it can take place despite looming obstacles: “I’ve spent hours staring at the ceiling / Searching for meaning in these songs / They don’t matter anymore / Yeah I’ve been up since 4 / So where’s the space for you and me?” The guitar playing and keys blend together nice and easy.
“The Thief” sets up with melodic pedal steel playing the shadows in your heart, coaxing them to come out and play, and the lyrics speak of wondering in the darkness: “As whispers fade into the dark / I get a faded glimpse into your heart I know, cause I’ve been there once before.” “Faster Way” is a heartland rock rhythm and an optimistic music set to a fearful aspect of human experience: “Terror calls my phone / Even now we know / In all the years we’ve grown / We are on our own / A faster way / A faster way to you.”
David Childers’ harmony vocals on “The Land of Apathy” lend richness to the banjo’s prominence and the rest of the mix in the up-tempo confrontation of this question: “is this the land of apathy?” Hopefully not. Let’s go out and vote, and do some good! Cheers!
Tin Roof Echo has crafted solid, moving and catchy songs, more than well worth your time to listen. Joe Hooten clearly has thought about a lot, and has a lot on his mind to share, to the benefit of anyone in hearing range. Check out the band and find more information here: https://tinroofecho.com
Flowers Falling was engineered, mixed, and produced by Kevin Boggs at Loc-Level Studio in Asheville, NC; and mastered by John Keane.
Musicians on the album are Kevin Boggs on electric guitar, bass, backing vocals and drums; Joe Hooten on acoustic guitar and vocals; Matthew Smith on pedal steel and dobro; Graham Sharp on banjo; Jay Gonzalez on B3 organ and saw; and Dulci Ellenberger and David Childers on backing vocals.
