Tall Tales & Fables
Self-Released, 2021
9/10
A Nashville duo consisting of Cody Clark (most instruments, singer, songwriter) and Dale Chapman (lead singer, lyrics), as Haunted Like Human the pair pen a sparse, forthright and harmonic listen that’s quite powerful in its stripped back nature.
“September” starts the listen with warm strings, elegant keys and poetic singing in the gentle opener, and “Ohio” follows with quick acoustic strumming and more firm singing that emits a timeless folk climate that’s immediately memorable and makes good use of a fiddle.
Further along, “Bruised Feet” offers a quick, more Americana focused song that benefits much from strings and banjo, while “Ghost Towns” enters calmer territory that’s quite intimate, even ominous. “Soothsayer”, one of the album’s best, then rumbles a bit more intensely, with swells of dramatic moments as well as no shortage of melody.
“Whistling Tree” arrives near the end and erupts into a frisky, campfire-esque tune of thumping drums, hand clapping and playful dynamics, and “Things Fall Apart” exits the listen with much calm beauty, where acoustic guitar and expressive singing make for a minimal finish of stirring song craft.
Indeed a haunting listen, and sometimes bordering on southern gothic, Clark and Chapman’s rich voices blend together in gorgeous ways, and the violin, cello and double bass flashes make a very compelling version of folk music that you’ll likely be quite taken with.
Travels well with: Adrian + Meredith- Bad For Business; Kashena Sampson- Time Machine