Peterborough, Ontario singer-songwriter Chris Culgin on acoustic guitar, banjo and on one track, piano is supported by fellow countrymen, Sean Conway (electric guitar), Rob Foreman (bass), Kelly Lefaive (violins, fiddle), Aaron Goldstein (pedal steel), Shai Peer (piano, organ), Matt Greco (drums) and Pat Phillips (drums, percussion) and others as he plows forward with some excellent roots country fare.
Culgin may have graduated from University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Jazz but afterwards veered, after doing a stint busking in downtown Toronto over to Americana music. Organic, spontaneous and ever sharp Culgin sweeps home with a series of well-penned observations of life, everyday trials and situations, highs and lows where heartache pulls you down. His titles to a degree give away his style of music, as you have a little of the likes of roving spirit Jason Ringenberg, and spark of the era he came, self-made, direct Culgin connects, instantly with the listener.
He is he real deal all right. On song “Living In The City” as he speaks of how cities though crowded, it is with a lot of faceless people, while on “Ex” and “Road Kill Love” he underlines how short-lived certain aspects of life can be. Culgin’s talent does not end here, since he also fills in as sideman with other bands from time to time. As for here the playing is loaded with sharp pedal steel, electric guitar, chugging banjo, piano, organ, synth (atmospheric “Caught Myself in The Wind”), fine rhythm section, harmony vocals and violin plus fiddle.
Culgin’s folk influences also show through, and never better are they executed than during the opening of lead off track “You Were Always Dancing”. Like with a good few more of his songs his work defies categorisation. Followed by “Hell’s A Box House”, “You’re Haunting My Favourite Place To Be” and such bubbly delights as “Clutter” plus an instrumental in “Cowgirl’s Song” (excellent lead guitar) he keeps the music sharp, varied and interesting. Go sample, but beware you mainstream fans because Culgin performs real music, plays real instruments and his songs too have a living identity to them!
Maurice Hope