| CALIFORNIA LOVE WITH HENRY WOLFE’S 'LINDA VISTA' |
| Written by Rishbha Bhagi | |||
| Friday, 12 August 2011 01:22 | |||
 In many ways, music and geography have always gone hand in hand. This pairing can sometimes be presented through the subject matter or title of a song or record, like "America" (Neil Diamond), "Panama" (Van Halen), "Anarchy in the UK" (Sex Pistols), "Sweet Home Alabama" (Lynyrd Skynyrd), "Surfin' in the USA" (Beach Boys), "Going to California" (Led Zeppelin), "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (Tony Bennett), etc. But sometimes the geography is heard within the music, with no hints or obvious connections pointing to a particular place, and this can develop into a genre in and of itself. For example, there is a Motown "sound" and that will always be associated with Detroit, even if the band with the Motown influence isn't from Michigan. Same goes for the "sound" of Dirty South or Southern rap – a rapper could have the influence and sound of the rap movement of Atlanta, for example, but perhaps he/she hails from Idaho. There's blues music, and then there's Delta blues, which will be always associated with Mississippi, even if the artist singing in that style is from Tokyo. There are certain artists and bands that are able to capture the sound of geography, the resonance of a particular place within their music, their lyrics, or their style. With Henry Wolfe, even if he wasn't living in California, his music has California written all over it. There are a few musical styles that California can be associated with, and Wolfe's melodic and reposed alternative folk-pop sound is definitely one of them. According to his website, Wolfe's debut album Linda Vista came to life in 2007 when he drove from New York to California in a trusty old station wagon. Having Paul McCartney's Ram and Harry Nilsson's Nilsson Sings Newman to carry him through the journey, Wolfe began writing the songs that would make up the lovely Linda Vista. The record boasts 10 charming songs recorded with real musicians, real vocals, and real talent, which is (unfortunately) an anomaly nowadays. The opening track, "Open the Door," is an apt introduction to a record that begs to be heard on repeat. The album is laid-back and easy, and Wolfe's sweet-but-slightly-worn-down vocals are effortless to listen to. There are more standout tracks than not in Linda Vista; from the fun swing of "Stop the Train" to the painfully sweet "Someone Else," nearly every song is a journey in and of itself. The record first slows down with the mellow and patient "Used to Be," and later changes its mood with the hypnotizing "For the Turnstiles," an air of mystery hanging from each word Wolfe sings. All of songs seem to have a tinge of melancholy to them and perhaps this is due to Wolfe's vocals. He has a slight touch of world-weariness contrasted with a glimmer of hope in his voice, and that transforms his songs into being genuine, honest, and extremely easy to enjoy. Wolfe's Linda Vista is a solid effort as a debut album and a proper introduction to him as a singer-songwriter. The easy vocals and airy sound defy being categorized as a specific genre and instead bring in waves of a geographical location, in this case the West Coast. Folk, alternative, rock, indie – whatever you want to call it, this album is an album for lovers of warm and unruffled music with thoughtful lyrics. And for anyone who's ever wanted to go and lie down in a tranquil trance on the beaches of California, all you need to do is pop in this record and close your eyes – you'll be there in no time. For more info, check out: Henry Wolfe Official Website Henry Wolfe Official MySpace Henry Wolfe on Facebook For more articles like CALIFORNIA LOVE WITH HENRY WOLFE'S 'LINDA VISTA', please visit the Music/Album Reviews Section of TimesSquare.com
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