Bath native Christian Cuff releases "Silo" with an international roster of supporting artists.

By Bob McKillop

 

Christian Cuff is a young man who traveled the world, collecting music, experiences, and ideas, and who brought them all back home to Maine, to put them together into his first studio album, “Silo”.  The music on this disc is not about those travels, but is informed by the music and the musicians that he encountered and performed with while on the road.

Born and raised in Bath, he spent his college years in Australia, and came back stateside to New York to try the music scene there.  He entered a songwriting contest sponsored by a recording studio in New Hampshire, and that was the beginning of the process that ended with his new CD.

Brian Coombes at Rocking Horse Studio in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, didn't pick Chris as the winner of that contest, but he contacted Christian, and they began discussions on creating a record.  Christian did not have the resources to finance an album.  Brian eventually decided that backing the project was a solid investment, and he and Christian had a deal.

For 11 days in September of 2007, Christian and Brian holed up together at Rocking Horse Studio and laid down the foundation of what was to become “Silo”.  Christian then left for a tour of Europe that he was managing.  This time on the road, meeting people, performing, and experiencing a variety of musical styles, had a significant impact on the character of the record.  He developed the sound he wanted for the album on tour, and he asked Brian Coombs for help in finding and recording that sound for the tracks they were working on.  Eventually, 9 of the 22 contributors on this record were recorded in Europe.

Christian booked his CD release party for March 6 of this year at the Chocolate Church in Bath.  The CD project came right down to the wire – the first time Christian saw a finished CD in the wrapper was 20 minutes before show time.  It was a stressful time, but he is completely satisfied with the result.  The Chocolate Church show was a smash hit.

The record is quiet and understated; Christian is whispering in your ear, exploring his soul and sharing his hurt and healing with you.  He calls this a “literal, day-by-day account” of the aftermath of a broken relationship – almost a concept album.  Most of the tracks are led by Christian’s husky, resonant vocals over his strummed and flat-picked acoustic guitar.  Christian doesn’t so much sing these songs; it’s more like melodic spoken word.  It makes for a soulful, powerful, introspective mood.

The many contributors on “Silo” add their special tones and highlights to the mix.  The drums and percussion lend structure without burying anyone – four musicians supply the beat on this record.  They include Petter Bengtsson, David Pierog, Graham Cuff, and Patrick Andersson.  The consistency of the styles across the album is remarkable, considering the number of drummers.

Producer and engineer Brian Coombes plays optigan, mellotron, bass, and Wurlitzer.  Alicia Jacobs adds violin and Janet Lee plays cello on several tracks, to great effect. 

“Closer” is a melancholy narrative of life at the bottom of the hole, where the effort to heal from a broken heart is disrupted by tenderness from the lost lover.  Local singer/songwriter Marie Moreshead adds some haunting, soulful backing vocals.

“I’m not lost for what I’ve found,

Just thought I’d be better off by now..

When you call me closer, call me close,

And you call me yours”

 

“Hope” is perhaps the song on this album that best displays the European influences on this disc.  It has a gypsy mood, with a down-tempo ¾ time signature, strings, and a swelling, raucous instrumental break. 

“Because I don’t want to think ‘Should they have been?’

While I lie broke and stoned on the kitchen floor

With this hope

That you pushed down my throat”

“Frying Pan” is a little more upbeat, with a funky shuffle and back beat and some nice acoustic guitar chord progressions.  But the subject is still anger and hurt; strong and hateful words, but recognized for their context.

“That girl’s a trick, that girl’s a whore

She’s not I know, but damn it feels good to say so;

That girl’s a trick that I fell for,

She’s not I know, but sometimes I just need to think so”

 

This is not an album to listen to if you are dealing with some heavy depression yourself – it’s great songwriting, but a full dose can be a little heavy.  I enjoyed it for it’s arrangements, it’s powerful lyrics, and for Christian’s unique vocal style.  It’s great to hear these songs come up in the shuffle mix.

You can purchase these tracks directly from Christian’s MySpace page, or from Bull Moose Music’s website; Christian also sells them at his gigs.  He will perform on July 3 at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor; on the afternoon of July 5 at Heritage Days in Bath; and that same evening at the North Star Music Café in Portland.