I Can Still Hear You
Storysound, 2020
8/10
Listen to I Can Still Hear You
Suzzy Roche and her daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, used their quarantine time wisely, as they recorded these 11 tracks from their New York City homes where members of the Indigo Girls contribute to the thoughtful, soul searching songs.
The title track starts the listen with soft, pretty vocals from both mother and daughter as a dreamy demeanor emits elegance and grace in a waltz setting, and “Ruins” follows with a similar approach as sublime singing flows alongside warm instrumentation where Emily Saliers and Amy Ray (both of Indigo Girls) lend their vocal harmonies.
In the middle, “Swan (Duck) Song” benefits greatly from Scott Mulhavill’s bass amid the hushed beauty, while “Factory Girl”, an Irish folk tune, brings plenty of guitar to the soaring landscape where Ray lends her impressive pipes again. “Little”, one of the album’s best, then recruits a soulful quality as dulcimer, keys and a drumbeat work together with rich textures in a song about Stuart Little.
Closer to the end, “Jane” is key focused with mellotron in the slow burning atmosphere, and “Bein’ Green”, the Sesame Street song originally sung by Kermit The Frog, exits the listen with stirring jazz qualities and a mood that lends itself to late night reflection.
An album born out of loss, (Suzzy lost her sister and mother in recent years), the album embraces both love and melancholy, as much hope still lingers in this highly introspective and hauntingly gorgeous effort.
Travels well with: The Wainwright Sisters- Songs In The Dark; Ana Egge- Is It The Kiss