Dan and Faith released their new Then and Now CD several weeks ago, and it evokes fine folk idioms. With much acoustic grist under their wings, the two send their voices out natural and pretty as songbirds. By conjuring the perfect vibe for each of their numbers, they impress with the feelings they bring forth in their songs while pleasing the ear with their authentic, heartfelt deliveries. Dan Senie plays acoustic guitar on most tracks while multi-instrumentalist Faith Senie plays acoustic bass guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, and keyboards.
Opening cut “New Vision,” an evocation of times remembered, finds Dan Senie in fine form, his vocal injecting emotion with his earnest expressions. He croons with understated emotion which makes it a more emotion laden tune. An acoustic guitar line plays softly, keeping things quiet, solemn. Light applications of keyboard and dulcimer heighten a wellspring of feeling that forms the back story.
“Old Cabin” wrings the sentiments out of memories of a family vacation spot. The pair offer heartfelt vocals, his handsome and gentle, hers high and angelic. Together, their harmonies thicken the emotion and the reveries of the old cabin. A tender fiddle melody from Sara Milonovich winds through the tune and ties it all together while layering in another texture of respect and feeling.
Hearkening back to the turmoil of the late 1960s, “Sixty-Eight” marks the assassinations of King and Kennedy while looking for some kind of hope. The people found it in the Apollo moon mission. The Senies usher us through this with a tenderness that reflects respect for what was lost and what was gained. Dan Senie’s acoustic guitar work gives a gentle push forward, like it’s helping us get through the sadness and madness with familiarity and comfort.
“Grateful” give thanks for the music life that Senie has lived. With his handsome low tenor, he speaks to his ability to play, his lessons, and his inspiration. Accompanied by acoustic guitar and Raianne Richards’ whistle, he weaves the blessings of musicianship, partnership, and thankful audiences. With the vocal accented more than the instruments, a feeling of guidance is conjured as are a lot of nice notes he has a chance to play for us.
Focusing on her granddaughter in “Come Again Come Another Day,” Faith Senie envelops us in her warmth for this most precious of relatives. Her fine high vocal notes shine with the emotive qualities of the song. Dan Senie’s lower register vocal as well as a mellotron, keyboard, clarinet(Raianne Richards), and harmony vocals widen that emotion as they push it along as gently as a cloud traveling along a warm summer breeze.
“Harvest Time” has a wide, colorful feeling, a feeling with a lot of moving parts inside that make up what that feeling is all about. Fall is the most romantic of seasons and its social gatherings mark our greatest source of solace: community. That warmth is carefully balanced in the harmony vocals here as well as in the interaction of acoustic guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. One can sense the instruments talking to each other in the musical language with the same communal feeling as people at a pumpkin festival.
“Footsteps” reminds of the social struggles of the past and then encourages young people to take up their own generation’s cause. The Senie’s use their warm vocals, especially during their harmonies, to echo support from a good place. Beneath their vocals are enough sensitive piano notes and plenty of acoustic guitar support to envelop all in their hopeful message.
Combining Dirje Childs’ moody cello with Dan Senie’s emotive acoustic guitar and Faith Senie’s sweet mandolin notes, “Polaris” becomes this disc’s instrumental piece. The three weave their notes into a purity of sound that stirs the soul with its seriousness of musical purpose.
Faith Senie recalls her family members in “Pictures On The Wall,” a somber yet hopeful look at the passage of life. A sensitive guitar line and a thoughtful cello melody wrap Faith Senie’s voice in a pleasant yet sobering vibe. She makes a fine balancing act between sorrow for her losses while also conveying warmth and curiosity for who they were to her in life.
“Quiet Moments” reflects on Dan Senie’s dad, a presence he lost to the passage of time but a memory he holds dear which is another kind presence that never left him. Dan Senie’ hearty, steady vocal carries the seriousness of his father-son connection. His acoustic guitar offers ripples of somber notes to convey the loss as cello phrasing and mandolin notes please the ear and remind of the numerous feelings and memories that come with such recollections.
A more beat driven tune, “There For You” offers a helping hand theme and the vibe conjured by the music makes it feel authentic and sincere. Guest musician Peter Farrell taps out a lively melody on his piano as drummer Eric Parker gives it all a gentle kick forward.
One of the catchiest tunes in this work is “Ramblin’ Round,” a sweet duet the pair milks for every note it is worth. Taking turns singing each chorus, they inject their refrain with hooky delight. With Eric Parker back to work on percussion, this easefully paced ditty is fun to sing along to as well as being a positive light.
Closeout track “”Saying Goodbye” is a commentary on how we dispose of automobiles we once claimed to have loved. Sending our beloved cars to the crusher or the “used car guy” is an ironic betrayal, and this humorous a cappella has a winsome, likable quality that the listener cannot help but adore. The pair bring more of that warmth that marks most of this album. Their combined voices, especially during sustains, are tremendously refreshing and quaint. When taking turns at the microphone, they create a symmetry that impresses with its smooth timing.
Dan and Faith have once again come up with an exceptionally strong folk album. The duo might play on bills with singer-songwriters and they might play singer-songwriter venues. Yet, here on his Then and Now album, their vocals and musicianship follow old time Americana acoustic idioms patterns as opposed to being based on pop or rock and roll influences as found in singer-songwriter material. Whatever label one wishes to place upon this duo and their releases, they are quite good at getting their heartfelt messages across with well played heartfelt music and vocals. Co-producing with Mark Dann, the couple get a clear, natural sound out of each instrument and voice.
