A Drift Back to Another Future

One thing many of us have learned is that when you see the name Charlie Faye be prepared to expect not only the unexpected, but something beyond the scope of what you thought, and to be prepared for excellence in all ways in the delivery of whatever she is giving us at that moment.  We were first introduced to her as a singer/songwriter based in Austin, Texas by one of her early albums “Wilson Street,” which gathered praise for the quality of the songs, and the clear voice.  Next thing some of us knew about her was of her reverse tour; instead of doing a series of one nighters in various parts of the country she went to a city and lived there for a month.  She played and jammed with the local musicians, got to know both the people and the music of the area with all its nuances.  She was in Tucson, L.A., Shreveport, Burlington (VT), Portland, Milwaukee, Nashville, Asheville, Boulder, and New York; oddly, considering this record, bypassing the Muscle Shoals/Memphis intersection?  

Now she has put together a group with two of her cronies, both like her just about 5 feet tall, and unlike her the three are one Jewish, one Korean, and one African-Amrerican, from Austin helping with the harmonies and doing the dance moves and songs that are mostly soul as in Stax/Volt version that is in many ways reminiscent of the girl groups of the 50’s and 60’s.  This is in many ways the Girl Groups of the 60’s revisited, groups with names like The Chordates, The Supremes, The Marvelettes and The Chiffons.  This was a time of romance and break-ups, love, and close close dancing.  America, and its music were on the cusp or a hugh shakeup and these girl groups were pushing it.  

Heartbreak and romance tun through this dash back to the 50’s and 60’s, and yet there is something oddly contemporary about it.  It is a very interesting disc for this time, and considering her past work rather unexpected, which make me very curious as to what will come next from this artist that is full of surprises and good music.  

by bob gottlieb