Both of these artists seem to have discovered the  joy of studio recording in their first effort, and come back for more, fired up for a more complete sound! 

Carll Wilkinson – “The Working Poor Blues”

Carll Wilkinson’s debut 2005 release was “Pomagranate”, and it earned him a nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter by the Portland  Phoenix.   He has just released his new album, and this one’s called “The Working Poor Blues”.

Carll still plays with a percussive guitar style, and pumps out dramatic, sophisticated vocals; his are passionate, almost desperate songs about love and struggle.  He sounds a little like an upbeat and not-so-breathless Ray Lamontagne.  ”Pomagranate” was just Carll and his guitar.

The new record is much more full, with more instrumentation and production – and Carll wears it well.  We are treated to Stefen Samuels on drums, Tom Snow on piano and organ, and Pete Morse on a variety of guitars and bass.

Pete Morse is the owner of Busted Barn Studios; he recorded, mixed, mastered, and co-produced the record.  He has begun to rack up the credits for some great albums lately (Sorcha Cribben-Merrill, Putnam Smith.)  He had a hand in “Pomagranate”, but this new record is all his, and it sounds great.

As for Carll’s songwriting, he tells me, ”

I think the album is about a lot of things, but thematically I think it is a lot about personal history and reinvention, and it asks if we can reinvent ourselves or not.   The title track was written in 2007;  I had read an article about a hedge fund manager, and was kind of wondering how that juxtaposed against the staple American dream of working your way from pauper to prince.  Making a billion dollars a year seems like a mutant version of capitalism.  …Its half earnest, half sarcastic, and not so sure that our collective aspirations for more are a good thing.  And, it seems to have sort of predicted the current state of affairs.”

No word yet on a release party, but stay tuned for more information!

Zeile August – “Lucie’s Hobo Package”

Zeile August didn’t wait as long as Carll between albums: her debut was last year, and was entitled “Orion’s Belt”.  The new one will be released on June 26, and is called Lucie’s Hobo Package” (Zeile tells me she is planning the studio time for a third one already!)

“Orion’s  Belt” is a collection of 10 songs featuring Zeile’s spooky, “full-vowel” vocals, her guitar, and Fred Morin on the double bass, and not much more.  ”Lucie’s Hobo Package”, like Wilkinson’s new CD, is much brighter and fuller, again, due to more instrumentation.  

Zeile’s songwriting on her first album is sparse, down-beat, and if not dark, at least very, very deep.  She retains that style in the new record, but the added texture give the songs a slightly brighter mood and help the listener engage more fully (the lead track, “Comin’ Up Roses”, is downright upbeat for Zeile!)  

In addition to Fred Morin’s return on bass for this record,  we get Eric Heintz with tangy electric parts on several cuts, Mark Cousins on percussion, and Karl Anderson on keyboard.  Johanna Conian sings a duet with Zeile on one tune.

Both album were recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Jonathan Wyman at The Halo, and mastered by the mastering master, Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering; this latest record sound wonderful.

Zeile is releasing the new disc at a show at the St. Lawrence Center for the arts (which is practically in her back yard) on June 26th, with some special guests, including Peter Alexander and Sorcha Cribben-Merrill.  Sounds like a good time!

Maine continues to grow as a place where artists find the resources and audiences to support new releases and projects!  These are two great examples, and we’ve seen many more recently!  It’s going to be  a great summer!