Deeper Water
Berkalin, 2022
9/10
A very thoughtful guitarist and singer-songwriter, Randy Palmer brings a long many players for this folk focused body of work that also touches on roots, country and Americana, too.
Palmer places the very warm and eloquent “Somewhere Down The Line” in the lead off position, where his expressive pipes are complemented by thumping drums and pretty vocal harmonies, and “Carry On” follows with emotive pedal steel accenting the agile keys from David Webb and Mark Epstein’s proficient electric guitar.
“Sixty Years Of Love” occupies the middle spot and is quite intimate, where moody cello thanks to Dirje Childs and mature piano suit the stirring climate, while the title track benefits much from a fuller delivery of cautious and precise country/folk song craft.
“Venus Chases The Moon” and “Choose Love” exit the listen, where the former is particularly poetic and displays intricate mandolin, and the latter exits upbeat, charming and even dance friendly in a track about the joys of parenthood.
Palmer started this record before the pandemic, and of course finishing it presented many challenges. Not one to shy away from hard work, his very descriptive and insightful storytelling is the backbone of the listen, and the timeless folk rock present will be relative for decades to come.
Travels well with: Silver Lake 66- The Space Between Us; Wayne Willingham- Temptation Row