A satellite that has stopped communicating is refered to as cold. In the case of this album the title is rather misleading, because these songs are a result of the communication between the young poet Lisa Olstein and the musician Jeffrey Foucault. The singer/songwriter took unpublished poems and fragments from Olstein and wrote melodies and songs around them. With “Cold Satellite” the two american artists reflect the musical traditions of their home, drawing inspiration from Folk, Americana and Blues.
Originally published in 2010, the album now finally sees a european release. It was Foucault’s sixth long player, since then followed by the critically acclaimed “Horse Latitudes” in 2011. The singer from south-eastern Wisconsin could rely on some really competent musicians. Drummer Billy Conway and bass player Jeremy Moses Curtis, who’s already played with the legendary Booker T, form a solid rhythm group. Especially on the up-beat songs, like the title track, the catchy “Voices talking” or “Call of the dogs” the band recalls a long evening at a local Honky Tonk.
Besides that, some gentle ballads show, that Foucault not only knows his great american song book, but is very talented, when it comes to story telling. Human relationships and the problems of everyday life are reflected in the lyrics. In addition his laid back singing style is often supported by mellow instrumentation. in “Late Season” or “There I go” the pedal steel, played by Nashville session veteran Alex Mccollough, is singing a crying lullaby and completes the midnight country feeling. If you admire honest Roots Rock and Alternative Country as The Jayhawks or Gillian Welch, “Cold Satellite” is not to be missed.
Cold Satellite is released in the UK (14 Nov 2011) via Continental Song City