Crow and Gazelle – Truth Be Told
The second song exemplifies the deeply rooted rural-sounding vocal finesse of “Long Way From Over.” Their unified voices shine here; it has the feeling of a brisk wind blowing through hair out in a twilight cornfield with the dry husks shimmering against the stalks. A well-performed song with a sense of solitude & space.
It continues with the slower “Watchtower,” which casts some shade on a more serious lyric with a haunting melody adorned in a solid Mike McClure vocal (guitars). Then a quirky & delicate “Belly of the Beast” stirs with Christlyn Lawrence’s vocal (percussion). Sounds like she could’ve been an effective ‘70’s punk rocker ala Robin Lane, a good Golden Palominos fit, or an engaging theatrical singer as much as Annie Golden (Golden-Carillo – “A Fire In Newtown”).
Well, they’re not Sonny & Cher, or Dave Mason & Cass Elliott, but they have a distinctive sound alone or together. It makes the 12 pastorally influenced tunes of Truth Be Told (Drops May 15/Independent/42:59) all the more pleasant. Produced by the Oklahoma duo along with Dylan Alldredge, the themes are a mix of intense subjects, but never sound extremist.
Mike’s “Wide Is the Water” spills like a polished blues. Sung with conviction. While with a near-Patti Scialfa voice, Christlyn unravels “So I Rise” — sufficiently dramatic without being melodramatic. The duo mixes the lead vocals nicely, so the repertoire is seldom a drag. Each song has its merit. Nothing’s new, but the showcase is sufficiently creative musically to be an interesting listen. Their voices aren’t folky, country, or contemporary pop. As a duo, they come closer to Buddy & Julie Miller than Richard & Linda Thompson or Clive Gregson with Christine Collister. Their voices have a magical scent of rain, a petrichor tonality — such is the impression from “Night & Day.”
With “Sky Is On Fire,” the duo unearths a Swimming Pool Q (with Anne Richmond Boston) topography & early narrative of Patti Smith. The duet is not between Christlyn & Mike at the onset, but the gnarly guitar lead that follows behind her like the silent footsteps of a ghost. Together toward the end, they cruise through the territory of Dead Can Dance (Lisa Gerrard & Brendan Perry) & go Gothic.
Mike goes headlong into Steve Earle’s punch on “Later Than You Think” & does a fine job. Mike & Christlyn have actually conflicting, contrasting vocal approaches, but it works well — it may be the secret to their sound. A good, interesting pairing.
Highlights – “Long Way From Over,” “Watchtower,” “Belly of the Beast,” “Wide Is the Water,” “Night & Day,” “Sky Is On Fire” & “Later Than You Think.”
Musicians – Juan Solozaro (electric & 12-string guitars/pedal & lap steel/ganjo/B3/piano) & Sam Howard (bass).
Color image courtesy of Miriam Riand. CD @ https://www.crowandgazelle.com/
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Crow and Gazelle “as above now so below”