Coco and Lafe return in new album
CD Review
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“Café Loco” features well-known Vermont performers who have left the state, country singer Coco Kallis and contemporary folk singer-songwriter Lafe Dutton. |
Toolbox
By ART EDELSTEIN Arts Correspondent - Published: August 21, 2009
A new album by Vermonters Caroline (Coco) Kallis and Lafe Dutton has arrived. It represents a new direction for both performers, one that should be of interest to their friends and fans.
Some history: Coco, as she has been known in her more than 30-year career as the lead singer with her former band Coco and the Lonesome Road Band, was a country music fixture for many years. The former Woodbury resident was the front person and lead singer but not a soloist.
Lafe Dutton, known professionally as Lafe, a Montpelier resident, changed careers around 2005 and with production from Mark Greenberg, released the CD "Am I Gone?" which was favorably reviewed on these pages in June of that year.
We had heard little of the two in recent years until "Café Loco," a duo-release by these performers arrived. It was a bit of a surprise. While Lafe and Coco had recorded together on her "Environmental Songs for Kids" and his solo CD, we find that these two performers have teamed up both musically and romantically. The musical partnership has produced three CDs, this new work and previously "The Jacuzzi Sessions" and "Dream Streets."
Since their first performance as a duo at a First Night Montpelier concert in 2007 they have relocated to Boston and San Diego where they spend part of the year. They also maintain a Vermont residence. According to their promotional material, they play farmers markets and house concerts.
The duo's first two releases were all-acoustic albums, but this recent CD, the first we have heard, includes several tracks with a full band and was recorded in California.
"Café Loco," although a duo album, is primarily a vehicle for Lafe's singing and songwriting. He sings lead on the majority of the 14 songs, with Coco's voice in a supporting role. His acoustic guitar is prominent even in the band accompanying tracks.
The CD contains a variety of production sounds. It opens with a lovely, understated "Cambridge Underground" with Lafe on guitar, and cello accompaniment. This song reminded me of the work of the late Dan Fogelberg.
I also enjoyed other less musically intense songs such as "Hunter's Goodbye," "Three Line Poem" and "Snow." Each of these tracks features acoustic guitar with bass and just one other instrument. The full band tracks such as "Let's Get Away," "Bandido" and Ocean Beach" seem a bit contrived. I'd like to hear these songs in a more pared-down version.
That said, "Café Loco" is a strong and interesting album. Dutton is an excellent lyricist and tunesmith. His songs are introspective and also when the setting is right, witty. Liner notes attribute all songs to both performers, but I suspect that Coco's songwriting hand is lighter than Lafe's. Her solo on "Here with Me" reveals her best work on the album and could be a precursor for more lead singing in the future.
While both performers have decent voices, Lafe's is much more a folk voice while Coco retains a considerable degree of her country music heritage. There are times when I felt she needed to tone down the country and dial in the folk more to achieve a better match for the music.
However, these may be quibbles. What we have on "Café Loco" is a new direction for two Vermonters who have decided to seek their music and strive for more national attention, a difficult task in a very crowed field. I suspect that this CD, with its very professional and often thoughtful production, along with generally strong material, will bring them considerable national radio attention.
Sadly, their note to The Times Argus with this CD says that we will have to wait until next June for these performers to visit us. They have a tentative show at the Black Door in Montpelier scheduled for then.
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