Chinatown (CD - 2003)

Frazey Ford (vocals, guitar); Trish Klein (acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, background vocals).

Additional personnel: Doug Thordarson (violin, viola); Jolie Holland (fiddle, background vocals); Martin Green (accordion); Olu Dara (cornet); Roey Shemesh (bowed, double & fretless bass); Andrew Burdon (double bass); Glenn "Ike" Eidness, Paul Clifford (drums); Aaron Chapman (saw); Diane Williams (background vocals).

Recorded at Lemonloaf, Bakerstreet Studios, and The Smilin' Budda Enjoyment Complex, Vancouver, Canada.

Personnel: Trish Klein (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica); Samantha Parton (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, ukulele); Frazey Ford (vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin); Jolie Holland (fiddle); Martin Green (accordion); Olu Dara (cornet); Andrew Burden (acoustic bass); Roey Shemesh (double bass, fretless bass); Paul Clifford (drums); Aaron Chapman (musical saw).

Audio Mixers: Danny Kopelson; Adam McGhie.

Recording information: 248 Schrader, SF; Bakerstreet Studios; Dubway Studios, New York, NY; Hipposonic Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; The Smilin' Buddah Enjoyment Complex; Three Trees, Nashville, TN; Vancouver, Lemonloaf.

The homespun, slightly quirky approach that guided the Be Good Tanyas on Blue Horse permeates their enigmatically titled sophomore release too. If anything, these performances beckon the listener even more into the material, as a fiery hearth might draw strangers together on a cold night. The singing is raggedy and breathy, the instruments gently strummed or stroked; like whispered intimacies, these elements cast a conversational spell. When something extra is added, it comes in minimal doses -- a sprinkle of barely audible electric guitar and unobtrusive strings enhance, rather than delete, the acoustic ambience on "Dogsong 2," while two cameos by Olu Dara stir memories of Joni Mitchell's early tapestries of folk and jazz. No single tracks stand out, but that may be intentional; by sustaining its blurry, wistful mood with neither gimmick nor interruption, Chinatown feels like an evening well spent with old friends. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk minimize