The recording sessions for 'Kathi' formally began in mid-2010 (though some of the recordings here date back even before then). It was around that time that Bruce Maclean's son Sam set out to produce a quickie covers album with his dad (then titled 'Unbreakable,' after the Todd Snider song the pair picked out early on). Evidently, the process wasn't so quick. Over nearly five years, off-and-on, sessions were held with Joey Spampinato, Rikki Bates, Sarah Swain, Ron Siegel, Liam J. Hogg, and Jonah Hurst, among others. When things looked to be nearing completion some three years ago, technology decided it had other plans. Now, after numerous setbacks, 'Kathi' takes its place as Maclean's fifth official studio album — and his first in eight years.
Where 2007's 'Joe's' took its name from Maclean's hometown venue of choice — and its (former) owner — the namesake for 'Kathi' is Joe's wife, Kathi Lewis, a woman whose provided so many valuable opportunities to Cape Cod musicians over the years. 'Kathi' likewise honors the contributions of the artists covered here, which include movers like the Everly Brothers, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Duke Ellington, Henry Mancini, and Elvis Presley, as well as the more often under-appreciated likes of country troubadour Townes Van Zandt, Brit-pop novelty singer turned label-founder Jonathan King, and New Orleans funk standard-bearers the Meters. A couple deep cuts from contemporary torch bearers Snider and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings round out this set's eclectic selection.
The sessions for 'Kathi' resulted in over 40 songs being recorded in some shape or form, but this album narrows down that expansive archive to a carefully selected 12 tracks in 42 minutes — a focussed but still ambitious set. The selection covers country, funk, folk, rock, pop, and jazz, along with other less explicitly marked territory. Every song comes in under four minutes, with one exception. There are instrumental tracks, duets, and medleys. Holding it all together are some of Cape Cod's finest musicians, who over the years have helped this project in its darkest days (hard drive crash...). Consider this album, then, a tribute to them as well. 'Kathi' hopes to honor both the collaboration of musicians and those who champion and in fact make that collaboration possible. We hope you enjoy it.
credits
released October 23, 2015
Bruce Maclean (vocals, guitars, bass, production, keys), Sam Mac (production), Rikki Bates (drums), Joey Spampinato (bass, vocals), Sarah Swain (vocals), Jonah Hurst (vocals), Liam J. Hogg (drums, vocals), Ron Siegel (bass), Jay Cournoyer (vocals, drums), John Wolf (trombone), Kimon Kirk (bass)
love these guys... great show at Passim's last summer...or when ever that was... always knocked out by the seemingly effortless musicianship and sheer songwriting knowhow... Sam Mendales
XTC had their moment in time...this recording extends it...Full of small, tight , quirky songs it juz rolls along. Recommended but maybe only for XTC fans.. cwhitney
Hard-edged alt-country that draws on the pinwheeling melodies of bluegrass and classic folk, bolstering them with pounding rhythms. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 4, 2020