Theo Lawrence – Cherie
Tomika Records TMK0011 [2023]
California Poppy – Liquor & Love – The Universe Is Winding Down – Cherie – Now That You’re Gone – How Do I Learn To Lose – A Dime For A Nickel – Sweet Candy Love – I’ve Been Here Too Long – Kitty Cat Clock – Keechie & Bowie – Every Wish
Four years after Sauce Piquante, Théo Lawrence returns with a new album, recorded under the guidance of Billy Horton. In addition to his usual band composed of Julien Bouyssou (piano, organ), Bastien Cabezon (drums), Thibault Ripault (guitar) and Olivier Viscat (bass), we can hear on this album Erik Hokkanen (Bad Livers, Derailers, Wayne Hancock and many more), John Schattenberg (violin) and Dave Biller on pedal steel and string arrangements.
Not only does Lawrence have a deep, clear voice, but he is an exceptional singer (and I’m not saying that lightly) capable of infusing a feeling or emotion into a single word or an inflexion.
In addition, he sounds like he ingested all the American music recorded between 1955 and the end of the 60s to understand every nuance and subtlety, allowing him to compose referenced but timeless tunes. We are never confronted with a vain exercise of copying or re-creation, which would have its place in a museum, but rather with a living work. We hear echoes of Marty Robbins, Elvis, the greatest honky tonk crooners, country rock, and swamp pop echoes that evoke Doug Sahm. This subtle balance is perfectly highlighted by Billy Horton’s arrangements and production.
Available at https://theolawrencemusic.bandcamp.com/album/ch-rie
Fred ”Virgil” Turgis
