Witness
De L’est, 2022
8/10
The veteran singer-songwriter Angela Easterling takes much help from the multi-instrumentalist Brandon Turner for these observational and powerful Americana originals plus, one Woody Guthrie cover.
“California” opens the listen with Easterling’s gorgeous pipes amid the hazy Americana that benefits from thumping drums and a reflective guitar tone, and “Home” follows with a more folk-influenced display that comes with expressive storytelling and a breezy melody.
Elsewhere, the tempo picks up with the dance floor ready, rural fun of “Keep Your Head Down, Johnny”, while “Witness” gets much thicker with a gritty country rocker that’s an immediate sing-along.
Approaching the end, the intimate “Hero”, which is the album’s best, flows with a very pretty, rootsy feel, and “Grow Old” exits with Ian Guthrie’s harmony vocals to complement the cautious and tuneful Americana.
Also on hand for the affair are Don McGraw (bass), Jeff Hook (drums, percussion), and Ted Lucktenberg (mandolin), plus a few others, and they help make for a very rich, timeless and memorable listen from a songwriter with a wealth of talent and sincerity.
Travels well with: Derek Hoke- Electric Mountain; Mary Bragg- Violets As Camouflage