Caleb Caudle takes a deep breath, digs deep and has an intimate chat with the soul of Americana on his latest record. FORSYTHIA is part nostalgia- part crystal ball gazing while wholly redefining the terms of introspective honesty. Any pretence to rock 'n' roll is banished as one person's guitar takes centre stage accompanied by the most subtle and supportive soundscape choreographed by an array of greats from the contemporary roots scene. This album is as clear and crisp as a mountain stream and can only be advocated for many multiple listens.
This North Carolina native requests a mere half hour of your precious time to spin a web of ten tracks that conjure up a vision of back to basics. Jerry Douglas' dobro and Sam Bush's mandolin are condiments to drool over. Producer John Carter Cash creates a restful template for Caleb Caudle to hone in on what matters most to a songwriter. Namely their inner thoughts and creative whim to produce something meaningful and lasting.
To add to the three named participants you can throw in Elizabeth Cook and Carlene Carter Cash who make delicate vocal contributions at opportune moments. I'm going to toss in a further name, not from the credits but someone so reminiscent of the vocal sound emanating. That name is Brent Cobb, someone who possesses a similar southern sensibility to Caleb Caudle. The track that really nails the comparison is 'Shattered Glass' in the penultimate slot. Although this starts in the astutely channelled opener explicitly titled 'I Don't Fit In'.
The ten songs submit an actual gem for playlist consideration if heresy is committed and this album is cherry picked. 'Forsythia' meets all the criteria for protruding out as a first among equals. It is a pure natural delight with Cook's vocals and Douglas' dobro playing their role Elsewhere different parts blossom with each listen. For the album at its most pensive see closer 'Red Bank Road'; for as positive and upbeat as it gets look no further than 'Texas Tea'.
A free mind enabled by forced solitude has led to the songwriting advancing in character directions as well. 'Whirligigs' (yes I had to look them up before smiling) and 'Crazy Wayne' are stories told eloquently and vividly to display an innate trait of the writer. For a more personal perspective, 'Through My Hands' seems to do the trick perfectly. The final two tracks to complete the set are the slow building, and slightly gothic sounding 'The Gates' in the number two slot and 'Tears of Savannah', which serenades the listeners with some mellow mandolin.
Caleb Caudle first crossed my path with his exceptional 2018 release CRUSHED COINS. While its 2020 follow up BETTER HURRY UP received wider acclaim, it was criminally under looked here. Maybe a victim of turbulent times. The good news is that the 2022-23 horizon looks healthy with a wonderful new record and UK focus to boot.
FORSTYHIA is an album to seek solace in and open up your own reflective channels. Caleb Caudle has seized the moment, wrestled with his own identity and delivered an album that cuts to the bone of sharp Americana songwriting in its rawest state.