Falderals 'Radio' a taste of true American folk music

The Falderals are a true American folk duet comprised of husband and wife team Andy and Rebecca Andestic of St. Paul, Minn. Though they are both from the Midwest, they met in Armenia and continued to perform as street musicians in Chicago and then settled in St. Paul in 2005. Their music is a blend of the 1960s era storytelling folk styles of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, along with the counterculture folk rock movement that featured groups such as Peter, Paul and Mary, and the Byrds.

Their new CD, “Radio,” was released in April and is the group’s third. When listening to a group play, it is obvious when they have been performing together for years, or not. There is no hesitation in this production. The instrumentation is bold and beautifully decorated with resonator guitar licks, compliments of special guest recording artist Shane Akers. The couple’s vocals are filled with emotion and Rebecca’s harmonies along with special guest Kari Shaw are dead on. The song writing is true to the spirit of what I have learned to call Modern American Folk. The topics are reflective of the condition of the human spirit.

Often, I feel that groups will put their best song of a recording on the first track. This is no exception. The song “Quick to Steal” catches your attention immediately with a Mumford and Sons styling. The lyrics “… to steal the wounded heart from the beggars twisted hands” is reflective of how deep the writing is. The title track, “Radio,” is second on the disk and I believe that Rebecca is speaking directly to me with the lyrics “… the sunrise comes quickly, but I rise so slow.” It is a beautiful ballad that speaks of poverty and the struggles of a life helped by the generosity of others — the need to escape and find a better life. It is my favorite of the recording.

If I had a complaint about the disc — and it would be a common issue with folk music — it is that after a while everything starts to have a sameness to it. This is always an issue when there is limited instrumentation. You could say that you are listening to the personality of the artist, which is true, but that doesn’t fix the problem of getting lulled into the sound.

I would give Andrew and Rebecca a ringing four out of five notes, and if you enjoy folk music, you will need this recording in your collection.

If you would like to learn more about The Falderals, you can visit their website at www.thefalderals.com. They will also be performing live on my radio show, “Home Town Sounds” 3-4 p.m. Saturday on WWJC, 850 AM. They can also be heard Saturday night at Beaner’s Coffee House in Duluth. The show begins at 8 p.m. and there is a $5 cover at the door.

Scott Johnson is the owner of Northwoods Music and promoter of the Northwoods Music Festival.

Tags: twin ports, entertainment, community, music