Teni Rane – Never Turning Back
This artist has a warm juvenile strength in her expressive vocals. A cross between Melanie Safka (“Lay Down Candles In the Rain”) & Judee Sill (“Jesus Was a Crossmaker” & “The Kiss”). Not quite folk but a pop-Medieval-rural classical ornamentation. Wonderfully applied. The opening tune “Driveway Conversations” has a creative, persuasive sound – almost lullaby-like.
Tennessee’s Teni Rane (vocals/acoustic guitar/bgv/Kalimba) has an entertaining tone filled with sincerity & gusto. Not many contemporary singers decorate their compositions with cello, & this is what lends classical airs to the pieces. Teni isn’t exactly mining the folk aesthetic of Eddie Baird & Amazing Blondell (“Sitting By the Window” “On a Night Like This”), but she’s in the territory gliding through with a splendid performance facility & a song like “As I Walk Home.” Stunning words.
The songs are Americana, but instead of relying on rootsy instruments, Teni takes tentative Nanci Griffith steps & keeps her material absorbing, warm-hearted, & informal. Both “Places” & “Arkansas” are steadily played with a nod to tradition. There are 12 well-delivered melodies threaded in Teni’s sophomore LP Never Turning Back (Drops Sept. 4/Independent/44:50) produced by Teni with Brent Bill (bass/percussion) with some assistance from Dave Eggar (cello/piano/keys/cello arrangements) & Phil Faconti (acoustic, electric, classical & baritone guitars) recorded in Chattanooga, TN & L.A.
Some tunes are more intense (“Sail Into the Dark”) & that only adds to Teni’s diversity, though shades of Melanie Safka are evident. Whereas a song like “Secondhand Memories” has tenderness mixed with a tone similar to Judee Sill. Deep expressive narrative with the haunting cello & strings with gnarly lead guitar – effective contrasting music. Teni is skilled with originality. Good poetry in her lyrics which lends the song muscle most pop & folk tunes lack. Lines like “reliving these moments again…” are as strong as Laura Nyro. Superb song. It happens again with “The Roads Between.”
More playful are “Leaving You Behind” & “Somewhere To Drive,” which are sung in the tradition of Nanci Griffith. Both are essential Teni Rane. Many are reflective, good storytelling blended between folky tones & country versatility. Ms. Rane has good instincts for themes & subjects in her songs. She doesn’t rely on cliches. An ambitious writer with disciplined, memorable vocals & melodies. Unfortunately, Dolly Parton has passed, but Dolly would have loved this woman’s work (“Heart In Tennessee”). Yeah, Teni’s that good.
One criticism: she needs to let people know her – the image/art of Teni would’ve been far better. I looked at her picture. I want to know this artist. Why? Because it’s one of the best albums I heard this year.
Highlights – “Driveway Conversations,” “Places,” “Arkansas,” “Sail Into the Dark,” “Secondhand Memories,” “Leaving You Behind,” “Somewhere To Drive,” “As I Walk Home,” “The Roads Between” & “Heart In Tennessee.”
Musicians – Parker Hall (Taps), Jonathan Shumaker (bass) & Jivan Gasparyan Jr. (Duduk)
Album design: Josh Wilhelm. Color image by Jess Astacio. CD @ Bandcamp & https://tenirane.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Teni Rane “Goldenrod”