Waterlines
Self-Released, 2021
9/10
A Bay Area artist who was previously an author, Zoe FitzGerald Carter tells her stories in song on this debut solo record, where luminaries like Dawn Richardson ( 4 Non Blondes), Julie Wolf (Ani Difranco), Erik Jekabson (John Mayer) and Michael Papenburg, among others, are along for the eclectic and well thought out 10 original tracks.
“Better Things To Do” opens the listen with Carter’s smooth pipes and agile guitar work, as Richardson’s fluid drumming and Wolf’s organ prowess add much to the warm climate, and “Below The Waterline” follows with gentle Americana as Carter’s vivid storytelling unfolds with an eloquent quality and Mark Schapiro’s subtle but effective harmonica won’t go unnoticed either.
Landing near the middle, “Owl In Kensington” offers much intimacy in its gorgeous display of folk-influenced song craft, while “On The Raft” recruits a haunting spirit and a cinematic backdrop to a very articulate and vocally diverse album highlight. “Like A Drum” then takes a sharp turn into Latin territory, where Jekabson’s fluent trumpet makes an impression.
Near to the end, “One Too Many Days In Nashville” enters a dance friendly setting where the country traditions of Nashville are certainly present amid the twang friendly atmosphere, and “I Wanna Be A Teenage Boy” exits the listen with an upbeat funk rock flavor, as Pam Delgago’s backing vocals complement the feminist anthem.
Carter’s roots are firmly planted in folk and Americana, and she proves here that she’s well versed in Latin, funk, jazz, country and rock, too. A record that appears to have been as fun to make as it is to listen to, you can think of Waterlines as a series of 4 minute novellas from the creative and timeless vision that’s applied to all of Carter’s artistic endeavors.
Travels well with: Sunny War- Simple Syrup; Claire Kelly- The Scenic Route