Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
Free Dirt, 2021
10/10
Listen to Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno
Though they’re both youngsters, Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno play like seasoned vets on this old-time, classic country influenced album, where they retain their Appalachian roots across a very sophisticated and harmonically inclined 11 tracks.
“Will You” starts the listen with very warm acoustic strumming, as the pair harmonize with much beauty alongside Calcagno’s fiddle and Chris Stafford’s pedal steel, while “Leaving On Our Minds” follows with just Leva’s pretty pipes guiding the more country influenced climate that also welcomes Sam Fribush’s piano.
Closer to the middle, “Red Hen” is a more bare display of timeless folk ideas as both contribute sublime vocals amid Trey Boudreaux’s proficient bass and Matty Meyer’s precise drumming, while “Biding All My Time” tugs on the heartstrings with a poetic quality as Leva’s rhythm guitar and Calcagno’s lead guitar interact meticulously with the stirring pedal steel. “On Account Of You” then touches on bluegrass sensibilities where fiddle and banjo from Calcagno add much to the rural climate.
“You Don’t See Me” and “Good And Gone” exit the listen, where the former is the most bare track present, as eloquent singing is accompanied by soft guitar and fiddle, and the latter finishes the listen with breezy melodies and even welcomes a Wurlitzer thanks to Fribush.
A record that thematically explores space and distance, these songs were fleshed out while the pair were separated by many states at different universities. Their combined songwriting skill and attention to detail ultimately prevailed despite the circumstances, and it results in a heartfelt, charming and even uplifting peek into some very creative minds that just might be record of the year material.
Travels well with: Justin Wells- The United State; Buddy & Julie Miller- Breakdown On 20th Ave South