Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt Esperanza
This is the acoustic progressive folk duo’s 5th LP & it’s quite an ambitious effort. Not that their previous albums weren’t interesting, but their partnership seems to develop & rejuvenate with clarity & precision through each succeeding collection. Invariably cool performances, self-assured & confident.
There are 10 well-sculpted tunes to Esperanza (Drops July 17/Crooked Cyclone Records/42:57) produced by Michael Ronstadt with Aaron Nathans & recorded in studios in Boston, MA, Cincinnati, OH, & Chester Heights, PA.
Their dual vocals will remind some of the wonderful team, Lowen & Navarro. The opener is the ballad “Mallory Riley” with its gentle arrangement & pensive performance that’s charming & for some, a good introduction. For the most part, their classical-folk-leaning melodies explore expressive narratives. “Thankful Anyway” is an optimistic tune rather than another dig at how difficult the world is – forgetting how difficult the Depression was, how pandemics came before, how wars have been fought in the past under more dire circumstances. The world is a beautiful place & there are good people in it.
Singer Tish Hinojosa guests on “La Madrugada Tucsonense” (Madrugada = the time between midnight & 6 a.m.). This is a beautifully performed ballad & the addition of Ms. Hinojosa’s Spanish vocals is a classy touch. Describing the beauty, food & warm memories of Michael’s family home in Tucson.
A peculiar cover comes with David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” (not necessarily a folk song) but is rendered smartly by Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt. They add a flamenco feel, the keyboards & backing vocals of Serenity Fisher. The duo reinvents the classic spacey rock song & adds new tints to its arrangement. The cello adds a surprising dimension; despite its vintage, it provides the “spaciousness” the song requires. The progressive rock of Bowie’s original is gone, & it allows the remoteness of being alone in space to grip the ear more forcefully. The heartbeat at the end is poignant.
Dropping back to a more rural, pensive, upbeat theme is the mandolin-driven “I Wish I Cared Less,” one of the jewels in this set. Sung a bit deadpan & serious in the tradition of Leo Kottke (“Chewing Pine” LP), which renders it even more meaningful than if it had been sung by a professionally schooled ballad singer.
“Spoiler Alert” is a good name for this track & also a miscalculation since both great musicians are not…comedians. The album ends with a guitar minor-key ballad that’s dramatic enough to conclude this showcase with minimalist folk-aesthetic finesse.
Highlights – “Mallory Riley,” “Thankful Anyway,” “La Madrugada Tucsonense,” “Space Oddity,” “I Wish I Cared Less,” “Dust & Sunbeams.”
Musicians – Michael (cello/vocals/harmony/bgv/claps/snare drum/mandolin/acoustic & electric guitars/electric bass/shakers/contact kick pedal/cajon/cowbell), Nathan (acoustic & electric guitars/vocals/harmony/bgv/spoons/claps/mandolin/cowbell), Tish Hinojosa (vocals/harmony/bgv), & Serenity Fisher (keyboards/harmony/bgv).
Color image courtesy of their website gallery & Bryan Kremkau Photography. CD @ Bandcamp & https://nathansandronstadt.com/