Fortune in Bloomington, MN

Sometimes, less definitely is more. Less music:
Callers
' debut album is a bit short at 35 minutes, but definitely sweet, with not a single throwaway track on it to lessen its impact. Less musicians: singer
Sara Lucas
and guitarist
Ryan Seaton
are
, and there are only two extra musicians supporting them. The core duo does a great job on its own --
Seaton
's playing is varied, emotional, and atmospheric;
Lucas
' voice is an instant attention-grabber, with velvety tones, slightly bitter nasal overtones, and a wide range used artfully, the voice of a great jazz singer. And though limited in number, the supporting cast brings a lot instrumentation-wise, drummer
Gus Martin
also playing bass, and drummer
Don Godwin
also playing brass instruments (and they never appear together). The songs are beautifully crafted in a sweet-and-sour folk-meets-jazz vein that will turn your living room into a dark, smoky club, and set the mood for regrettable confessions. Highlights include the yearning
"Valerie,"
the lighter
"Rone,"
the fragmented
"Debris,"
and the
Linda Perhacs
-esque
"The Upper Lands."
A textural/experimental streak runs through
's guitar playing, showing influences of
Ben Monder
when in jazz mode,
Loren MazzaCane Connors
in bluesier settings.
' octave-jumping and sudden shifts from sweetness to sorrow evoke the young
Joni Mitchell
, although she has her own personality. Folk singer/songwriters aficionados need to pay attention: either
will be the next big thing on the scene, or
Fortune
will become a sought-after rarity. Highly recommended. ~ Francois Couture