 Sometimes when you go to college, you meet people from distant lands and amazing things happen resulting from what you create. That couldn't be truer when it comes to one of the best new bands in the Providence music scene, Celadour. Made up of three students that attend the Rhode Island School of Design with each being from a separate part of the United States, the beautiful folk music that resonates from the talents of the trio is impeccable. With their debut self-titled album being released this week, impeccable might actually be an understatement. Celadour is made up of Montclair, New Jersey's Erica Renee Ehrenbard strumming her guitar accented by her deep, smooth and angelic voice, Seattle, Washington's Sarah Louise Neal's elegant violin melodies and Boulder, Colorado's Melanie Steinway's driving and pulsating bass lines. Ehrenbard recorded, produced, mixed and mastered the album using Brown University's recording studio, making the excellent piece of music a truly Do-It-Yourself (DIY) effort that the Providence music scene has become famous for. Now I realize that while reading this review you're asking yourself in the back of your mind, "What's a Celadour?". Well its actually a combination of two words, the verb cele, which means to hide, conceal or keep secret, and the noun troubadour, who is one who composes or sings verses or ballads; a composer or writer. Combine the two and you have Celadour, according to the band it is a noun and it is one who obscures, mystifies; an individual of the darkness or the celestial. - Rob Duguay | "The Edge" is my favorite track off of the album, with Ehrenbard and Steinway both starting with driving riffs on each of their respective instruments, then Ehrenbard slowing it down a tad bit only to open the rhythmic door so Neal can roar out her epic skills on the violin. "The Growing Song" features Neal's gentle and powerful violin playing and Ehrenbard's uniquely operatic voice along with her amazing guitar playing abilities that have a great knack for going from loud to quiet and vice versa repeatedly with great ease. "Skies" is about how there's no such thing as a love song, it's just a combination of chords and melodies. The song also features Ehrenbard exclaiming her voice so it has a tinge of a growl to it, changing the tone a bit but still making it an amazingly epic ditty. "No Need" is the perfect song about a situation that is extremely awkward right when you open the door and walk inside, with Neal's violin extremely noticeable and pulling off the rare ability to show an emotion just by playing an instrument without having to say a word. "As The Crow Flies" has all three members of Celadour singing in unison, giving it a feel as if they are singing in a choir. As I always say when I write this, don't take my word on a select few. Every song in Celadour's debut album is simply astounding and definitely deserves to be heard repeatedly until the play button on your stereo has short circuited. Celadour will be having their release party for their album on the Nickerson Green on the campus of The Rhode Island School of Design on May 11th at 8pm where they'll be joined by fellow musicians Abby Gallagher, The Bridgebuilders, Howl Moonshine Howl, 5AM, Link and Martine. It's 100% free, with free admission, free refreshments, free beer if your 21+ (what's better than that?!!) and most importantly, free live music. Make sure to head down to the show on the 11th to check out what will surely be a great night. While you're there, why not grab a copy of Celadour's debut album? It's pure beauty converted into music that is simply a work of art. |
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