Douglas Ray Jaffe is a musician’s poet bringing voices out to play on ANGLES, the four track disc with Drey Arnold, Mollie Flotemersch, Natalie Kasper, and Bob Schnider, putting in their own interpretations of Jaffe’s stories and making them even more magical. Even if you don’t follow the stories, these voices make it easy to get where Jaffe is coming from, as if specially made for them to sing. It certainly makes you wonder about Jaffe and want to hear more of his work, which includes the previous release which also comes endorsed from where I stand after giving it a listen.
It is worth nothing that Craig Brandwein produced this release, a world class producer out of Alabama where many musicians he works with hail from, most notably working with the University Of Alabama Birmingham’s music department consisting of a lot of great musicians recording music in the current landscape. “Paychecks And Dreams” starts the set off with Drey Arnold commanding the ears all the way with her beautiful voice and a cadence all her own, as she nails this song without even trying to come off like it. My hat went off to this song and Arnold before it was even halfway over.
The focus to be kept on Jaffe is on the lyrics, but how deep anyone is willing to do for that depends on their preference in songs, as some are fine not knowing the meanings, but without that, Jaffe wouldn’t be the author and wouldn’t need pointing out about it. The songs are all very well produced and arranged, and the singers drive the rest home but lest not forget Jaffe’s role and how these songs came to be.
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/1h8QOoRRQRBtcy8CRBEPMl?go=1&nd=1&dlsi=a25b57a92f604aab
“Brookly Eyes” for my taste is the high point of the EP, with Mollie Flotemersch taking it over the top and putting in the most outstanding studio performance, for which she is totally cut out for. I could live with a few more of these to go around, which keeps me on the lookout for more of Flotemersch’s work has in store for the future. This is an effortless voice of silk that flows all over “Brooklyn Eyes” with unquestionable talent it sounds like she was naturally born with. This ballad earns top marks for Flotemersch and gives you the chills by the time you’ve made it through the first listening, only to find yourself hungry for more.
“To Pass” is yet another gem, with Natalie Kasper going more pop than country, showing her versatility as an educated musician, and giving you good reason to look up here catalog. This too is a must hear, but isn’t it all on ANGLES, an all too short but nevertheless a sweet release, and it takes a turn at the end with Bob Schnider stepping in and sealing the deal on “Today’s Forecast… Anything Goes.” You’ll be pleased with the first three songs and the narration of Jaffe’s words in the grand finale, prepared for it or not, and not much more can be said about something more worth hearing than describing.
Mindy McCall
