Handled With Care
Outside, 2023
8/10
A 3rd album that’s dedicated to his late mother, the Canadian folk artist Penny Lang, Jason Lang records some of her favorite songs and uses country, folk, blues and plenty of other ideas for the raw and melodic execution.
“Firewater” starts the listen with a frisky and warm meshing of country and blues that’s both acoustic and electric, and “Senses Of Your Leave” follows with spirited harmonica and very powerful, soulful singing in the bare, folk influenced climate.
At the midpoint, “Ain’t Life Sweet” is indeed sweet, where cozy harmonica, agile finger pickin’ and upright bass create much beauty, while “Carry On Children” lands in folk territory amid the acoustic guitar and eloquent storytelling about parents dealing with their children leaving to live their own lives.
“Living With The Blues” and “You Are My Sunshine” exit the listen, where the former is a swift and dance friendly album highlight that’s lively and crisp, and the latter exits with a heartfelt, romantic delivery that’s vocally absorbing and musically intimate.
Lang plays everything on this record, which was fleshed out in just 2 days, and used old, classic instruments from the ‘50s and ‘60s. An aptly titled affair, he certainly does the memory of his mother justice, and illuminates her work and the two covers with a stirring and authentic presence.
Travels well with: Tim Ball- Upstate Crossroads; The Heart Collectors- Timeless Space