Full Review

Jeffrey Foucault – Stripping Cane

‘Stripping Cane’ is Jeffrey’s follow up to his critically acclaimed debut ‘Miles from the Lightning’, and while there are obvious similarities the new disc is more musically diverse and with a sensible 12 tracks (45 mins), it’s an easier and more enjoyable listen than its predecessor.

Although resident in Massachusetts, his style has a definite Texan feel, and his stripped down approach makes this an album of evocative, acoustic Americana with a real sense of time and location.

Whilst the arrangements are open and relatively spare, there are excellent instrumental textures throughout – Jeffrey provides most of the guitar work, and the guests include Kris Delmhorst, Kevin Barry & Peter Mulvey, but most of the subtle touches come from multi-instrumentalist and producer David Goodrich who adds a range of guitars, banjo, mandolin and more that give the arrangements depth and add to the atmosphere created by the lyrics.

Essentially this is a collection of stories – the open country, small towns, roads and the lives of the people who make these places their homes – ‘Doubletree’ tells of two friends and a tragic accident, ‘Stripping Cane’ is a beautifully poetic song of a relationship going wrong, and ‘Pearl Handed Pistol’ name checks Custer, Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull and brings a little relief into what is a fairly lyrically and stylistically downbeat collection.

‘Stripping Cane’ is a striking disc and has 12 intelligent, literate and delicate songs filled with atmosphere and emotion.