If you are looking for an album that illustrates why the music of the New Weird America continues to be fresh and relevant you won’t do better than the new album by Tom Carter and Christian Kiefer. it’s called ‘From The Great American Songbook’ and it’s out now on Preservation records.
This epic sounding title that refers us directly back to a folk-blues heritage but it is a strikingly modern record that deconstructs and augments public domain songs. You’ve never heart a version of Scott Joplin’s ‘The Entertainer’ like this.
My favourite track is Go Dig My Grave (Railroad Boy) which closes with these chillingly beautiful lines:
“Go dig my grave both wide and deep
Place a marble stone at my head and my feet
On my stone place a snow white dove
To tell the world that I died for love”
Tom Carter’s lap steel guitar work creates a haunting atmosphere – maybe he’s been fired up by the stunning solo albums by Charalambides partner (and ex-wife) Christina.
Christian Keifer is not so well known a figure (at least not to me) but his contribution here is flawless. He is apparently engaged on a project creating 43 songs for 43 American presidents and holds a PH.D in American Literature (eat your heart out Sufjan Stevens!).
This is the second album by the duo following on from last years limited edition ‘A Rather Solemn Promise’. Hopefully it won’t be their last. Highly recommended.
You can hear the album via Deleted Scenes Forgotten Dreams blogspot
