Chocolate Paper Suites

by Krista Detor

Overview

Krista Detor has developed into an artist of rare ability, and this album finds her firing on all cylinders. There's no lack of ambition here, either in the concept (five suites, each comprised of three thematically linked songs) or execution. As a wordsmith she can be both playful and profound with a deep poetic gift. As a musician, her piano playing might not win prizes, but she can write hellishly good songs, with minor keys that can tear at the emotions. There's plenty of emotional range here, and at times, her singing has the low, husky quality of a Lisa Germano (no bad thing). Anyone who can tackle Lorca, Dylan Thomas, and Darwin on the same album has plenty going for her intellectually, too. It's a disc with many highlights, but one that stands out is a live performance of "Clock of the World" where she's backed by three Scottish folk singers, and together the harmonies are, quite simply, angelic and perfect. The song itself might be a collection of strange images, but somehow, they're just right and convey the feel on one level, even if it's never concrete. In some odd, mystical way, Chocolate Paper Suites is just about perfect. Throughout the album, there's plenty of melody, and an achingly warm voice that puts the cherry on the cake of the talent. It's rare to say that a CD is so good it deserves to make the artist famous, but that is certainly the case with this. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/21/2010
Label:	Corazong Records / Tightrope
UPC:	0700261288055
Rank:	193774

Tracks

1. Rich Man's Life
2. Lorca in Barcelona
3. Recklessness & Rust
4. Dazzling
5. All to Do with the Moon
6. Teeter-Totter on a Star
7. Innuendo
8. Middle of a Breakdown
9. Deliver Me
10. Hundred Years More
11. So Goes the Night
12. Small Things
13. From Miss Emma Brawley
14. Clock of the World
15. Emma's Lullabye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Krista Detor   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Accordion
Colin Linden   Guitar
Jason Wilber   Guitar
Sara Caswell   Violin
Jack Helsley   Bass
Emily Smith   Vocals
Malcolm Dalglish   Hammer Dulcimer
Karine Polwart   Vocals
Esme Folley   Cello
Moira Smiley   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mark Erelli   Guitar,Vocals
Steve Mascari   Bass
David Weber   Guitar,Vocals
Jamey Reid   Percussion
Rachael Mcshane   Vocals
Chris Woods   Violin
Dena El Saffar   Viola,Violin
Sam Bartlett   Banjo,Mandolin

Technical Credits

Izzy Maclachlan   Engineer
Krista Detor   Composer
Hugh Syme   Design,Art Direction,Illustrations
Jim Krause   Photography,Photography
Moira Smiley   Arranger
David Weber   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Stu Hanna   Mixing
Adrian Chenery   Engineer