Claudia Gibson
The Fields of Chazy
*** out of *****
The Austin, TX based singer/songwriter/guitarist Claudia Gibson's second album, The Fields of Chazy, is a rock solid collection of Americana and folk. She spins timeless tales that feel personal and personal tales that are timeless as she crisscrosses the immigrant experience, relationships and generations.
The title opening track embodies Gibson's sound and style perfectly as light mandolins and acoustic guitars support her rich voice as she tells a tale that inspired her to make this record, her family's history. It is a wide ranging effort that floats by with grace, from Maine to Texas and a few stops in-between.
The pedal steel and light drums pop up on "Unbound" while the electric guitar starts out "Laura's Song" a western epic that follows the title lady falling for the wrong man. The smoky blues that runs throughout "Rain" uses organ guitar and percussion to develop a cool groove while "The Night Visiting Song" takes an old Scottish ballad and modernizes it a touch via a duet with Pat Byrne.
Songs like "The Days" can become a bit cliché at times, however Gibson's warm vocals and the rich musicality by all involved, including producers Walt Wilkins and Ron Flint, keep things floating along. One high point is "Promised Land" which digs into Gibson's past describing the Immigrant experience of her ancestors which resonates mightily today with political fighting about the topic as accordions ring around tales of child labor and hardships.
The strong album ends up with the easy waltzing "Shine On" as Gibson's welcoming voice urges you to forget your troubles and cast your old cares away as mandolins pick and guitars strum, wrapping up The Fields of Chazy on an easy, flowing note.
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Support the artist, buy the album, and peep some video below:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
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