Straight from Heaven Studios - Larry and Mindy's long anticipated second CD has arrived!
Larry and Mindy are a popular part of the American folk music scene in Israel. Both Floridian born, they immigrated to Israel with their families in their teenage years.
During his mandatory military service in the late seventies Larry was a self-appointed "one man band" with a guitar always ready for social entertainment. After his army duty, Larry began performing in clubs in Tel Aviv doing songs by Simon & Garfunkel, Don McLean, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Crosby Stills Nash & Young and more. Afterwards, Larry dropped performing for many years to build a management career and a raise a family. In 2003, he returned to the music scene, and started performing at Folk Clubs around the country, where American folk music is played and sung, including performing regularly in the prestigious "Jacob's Ladder" annual folk music festival.
As a teenager Mindy was a lead singer in a Jewish music group that performed all over the USA and Canada. Throughout her adult years singing remained her love and she performed at parties and functions of friends and colleagues, doing songs by Simon and Garfunkel, Carole King, Bread, Harry Chapin, Barbra Streisand, and more.
Mindy and Larry met at the beginning of 2006 and happily combined their musical and song-writing talents to create compositions in a folk rock style uniquely theirs.
Following their first successful album, "Two Hearts, One Beat", comes this second much awaited compilation,"EBTB". From the funky and ominous "Wolf in Waiting", the stirring "Holy Light" reminiscent of the intertwining Scarborough Fair/Canticle, the fun-loving rhythms of "Shutdown" and "Everything but the Blond", the touching war-inspired "Talk to Me Sweetness", the can't help but sing along tune "Sing for Me", the hilarious list of shared childhood no-no's in "Things My Mama Told Me", and the heartfelt affirmation of "The Ring", there's something for every folk music lover on "EBTB".
=========================================
CD Review, by Harold Jacobs:
“EBTB” IS A SMALL MIRACLE
This CD has something to please everyone. It has an amazing selection of musical styles that range from mysterious rock, spiritual uplift, love ballads, rock originals, to happy reggae and even novelty comedy. The marriage of Mindy’s poetic prowess, lovely voice and wonderful energy together with Larry’s musical virtuosity and arranging/engineering skills makes this one of the most exciting albums of the past few years. Watching artists reach that magical jumping off point where they completely take over the controls of their artistic skills, and use them to create such magnificent aesthetics, is a joy to behold. This is exactly what happened to Larry & Mindy. Mindy’s poetic and humorous lyrics embellish 8 of the 12 tracks in their beautifully designed package that includes all the lyrics.
It is the rare multi-instrumentalist who is capable of creating all of the musical lines and harmonies with instrumentation that is tight and organic but doesn’t sound contrived or über technical (eyes roll upwards). With “EBTB” one remembers Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye’s vocals/instrumentations and smiles. There is something very wondrously linked and smooth when musical harmonies and engineering fit so closely together. This CD billows with silky arrangements that are never over-done and satisfy the soul so completely. The duo’s simultaneous “coming of age” of song writing, musical execution, arranging, engineering and production are nothing short of a small miracle.
“Wolf in Waiting” is an ominous & mysterious soft rock song caressed by Mindy’s rich and sultry voice. Larry’s back-up over-dub vocals balance the arrangement until Akasha (their canine companion) injects her wild wolf vocal.
“Make Your Mark” features outstanding opening bass & keyboards. Larry’s vocal timbre is astounding, and when supplemented by Mindy’s close harmonies, the whole thing turns into a rich tapestry of pleasing vocal and electronic sounds & rhythms.
“Holy Light” is so spiritually uplifting that it would fit right in to any house of worship. “Guide us with your gentle might.” The repeating mantra-like chorus “Or Laneshama” (light for the soul) is heart-wrenching. Mindy’s voice is like a rich and smooth low pitched flute that is echoed by a synthesized flute whose long and gradual fade-out slowly returns us from above; back to earth .
“I’m Free” is one of my favorite Larry rock originals from his earlier repertoire now newly arranged and supported by Mindy’s lovely harmonies. What a superbly well balanced arrangement. Love those spicy congas.
“Shutdown” is a very Carly/Eurovision style song of the good type. This time with Larry’s close vocals and synthesized harmonies that sound so organic that the song actually produces an adrenalin rush. The arrangement is like a power station on shutdown hold with the potential of bursting open like a volcano at any moment.
“Suburbia” is very much like its title suggests; a tragic love song to the “hustle-bustle menagerie”. It is a perfect execution of an uninspiring subject that provides “silent pain…each day’s the same”.
“Everything but the Blond” is a fun reggae track with superb bass, syncopated rhythm guitar & drumming and electric piano. This will take you right to Jamaica. Larry’s lyrics sound very personal because “she’s got everything he ever wanted” (almost). Lucky guy!
“Talk to Me Sweetness” is a love duet with lovely riffs and harmonies. When “war rages round us” cannon fire sounds like thunder while the duo extols love and mutual support. Sounds like home?
“Sing for Me” is Larry’s ultimate sing-along chorus enhanced by Mind’s lovely harmonies.
“Things My Mama Told Me” is a really funny take on all those things we were taught not to do. It makes me LOL every time. Accompanied with simply one guitar, crisply and clearly executed, one easily identifies with many or most (?) of the taboos.
“Better by the Year” is another newly-arranged old Larry favorite that lists Larry’s favorite musical nostalgia and influences. It is done so beautifully with Mindy’s wonderful harmonies that it turns this song into an instant classic.
“The Ring” is Larry’s sensitive and delicate portrayal of the search for true love in a style that is pure JT with LF influences. Even the harmonica solo is emotionally packed. So what’s not to like. The song ends with “I like this ring, it fits me well. Feels real good, can’t you tell?” Happy end.
This CD feels real good too and instantly became one of my all-time favorites.
Harold Jacobs
“Folk Notes”
Read more...