Artist: Brigitte DeMeyer & Will Kimbrough
Album: Mockingbird Soul
Bitrate: 209kbps avg
Quality: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.98.4 / -V0 / 44.100Khz
Label: BDM Music
Genre: Folk/Rock
Size: 67.19 megs
PlayTime: 0h 42min 27sec total
Rip Date: 2017-05-13
Store Date: 2017-01-27
Track List:
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01. Everything 3:22
02. Broken Fences 3:48
03. The Juke 3:40
04. Running Round 2:48
05. Mockingbird Soul 4:16
06. Rainy Day 3:15
07. Little Easy 3:13
08. I Can Hear Your Voice 3:11
09. Honey Bee 2:28
10. Carpet Bagger's Lullaby 3:35
11. Until Then 2:53
12. October Song 5:58
Release Notes:
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This stripped-down debut collaboration should come as no surprise to anyone
familiar with the work of singer-songwriters Brigitte DeMeyer or Will Kimbrough.
They have collaborated since meeting in 2009 and have shown in their own work
they appreciate the concept of stripping songs and production down to its roots.
Still, this debut linking both voices along with KimbroughÆs generally acoustic
(sometimes electric) guitar, stand-up bass, occasional ukulele (from DeMeyer)
and KimbroughÆs harmonica with little else is a revelation of sorts. When they
harmonize on the deeply emotional opening track, singing ôall you are to me is
everything,ö (is there a more passionate statement?) itÆs clear these two were
made to sing together. Throughout the next 11 tracks, ten of which are
originals, the duo swap lead vocals, swoop their voices together and revel in a
sweet, sometimes tough set of gospel-influenced folk, blues, backwoods country
and some rock and roll.
The swampy ballad title track is a textbook example of what Kimbrough and
DeMeyer are aiming for. She sings with churchy soul atop his stark plugged-in
guitar lines (similar to Pops StaplesÆ less is more approach), and he joins in
on the chorus for a bittersweet performance that only the most hard hearted
wonÆt be moved by. Bassist Chris Wood (from the Wood Brothers and Medeski,
Martin and Wood) kicks in rubbery, jazzy runs on ôRainy Dayö with minimal guitar
and rattlesnake percussion to create a near religious experience as the singers
join on the chorus of ôoh rainy day, pouring down the promise of a better wayö
with the fervor of a lower-key Delaney and Bonnie.
The twosome have sultry, frisky fun on ôHoney Beeö (ôIÆd be as gentle as a
hurricaneö), lightening the mood for a song that seems to be written in the 40s
and plucked from the Leon Redbone songbook. This is mostly a showcase for
DeMeyer whose sumptuous vocals are up front in nearly every track but
KimbroughÆs presence is felt. His lead singing and intricate finger picking on
the closing cover of the Incredible String BandÆs obscure ôOctober Song,ö the
discÆs only non-original, displays the talents of a sideman whose own solo
albums have unfortunately flown under the radar. When he sings ôI used to search
for happiness/ and I used to follow pleasure/ but I found the door behind my
mind/ and thatÆs the greatest treasureö itÆs with a mix of reflection and a
deeper understanding of an artistÆs psyche.
Both DeMeyer and Kimbrough have released solid and notable, if mostly
under-heard, solo work. But this meeting of the minds is a near perfect
combination of their individual strengths. At its best, it shows what can be
accomplished with just the basics of musical accompaniment and the joining of
two like-minded musicians to create a singular musical experience.