Beautalina
Adhyaropa, 2024
10/10
This first album from the acoustic quartet Eureka Shoes brings us plenty of harmonies, texturing and top notch songwriting thanks to Charlie Burnham, Jean Rohe, Skye Soto Steele and Rashaan Carter and a few guests.
“Don’t Ask” opens with guest Marika Hughes atmospheric cello alongside Rohe’s warm guitar for the rich delivery, and “I Wanna Be” follows with melodic folk qualities, plus Rohe’s expressive pipes that emit much beauty.
Deeper into the listen, “Go Easy” blends stirring violin with the poetic guitar playing and intimate singing, while “Everyone Is Dying” welcomes Burnham’s voice to the duet that showcases Steele’s guitar playing.
Further still, “Moonlight” makes great use of Carter’s contrabass amid the powerful singing, and “Barn Hymn” exits with guests Kyle Sanna’s guitar and Willa Folmar’s voice adding much grace to the gentle, stirring finish that would suit a campfire.
If artists like Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, and CSNY are in your rotation or you have an interest in folk music from any era, you’re really going to appreciate this gorgeous and enlightening record.
Travels well with: Jacob Jolliff- Instrumentals Vol. 2: Mandolin Mysteries; Nate Sabat- Bass Fiddler