Motel
Tiki Sounds, 2021
8/10
The songstress Julia Kasdorf has enjoyed an eclectic and lengthy career that’s included everything from punk to country, and here she’s aligned with Les Thompson, Dustin Delage and many others for 8 originals and 3 deep catalog covers that are fleshed out with much care and attention to detail.
“The Minute I’m Gone” starts the listen with Kasdorf’s cozy guitar playing and soft, expressive singing in the groove friendly, bluesy climate, and “Cold Saturday” follows with a calm pace of careful acoustic guitar alongside vivid storytelling that’s somewhere between folk and Americana.
Further along, “Cool Water” gets a bit rugged but still with plenty of warmth in Kasdorf’s organic formula, while “Long Chain” shuffles with a country spirit that’s bouncy and benefits from Walter Tates’ sax prowess and soulful backing vocals. “Reservations”, one of the album’s best, then displays Lynn Kasdorf’s glowing pedal steel and and Gary Ferguson’s electric guitar amid the breezy melodies.
At the end, “A Lover’s Farewell” makes great use of Buddy Dunlap’s rhythm guitar as tuneful grit and eloquent song craft are present, and “Blue Veil” finishes the listen with Jon Carroll’s strategic organ alongside Kasdorf’s versatile pipes in a flawlessly crafted exit.
Kasdorf brings a timelessness with her that runs parallel to legends like Lucinda Williams or Patty Griffin, as Motel lands somewhere near roots, folk, country and Americana, and comes with much skill, grace and memorableness.
Travels well with: Megan Lacy- Salvation; Jenny Reynolds- Any Kind Of Angel