Bringing his best with soft melodies, husky vocals, and vintage lyrics, Evan Cheadle is getting ready to release his upcoming album, Fault Line Serenade, on June 11th.
The Victoria, BC, singer-songwriter takes listeners back in time to the heyday of the 60s and 70s, having such admiration of music during this time period. With influences of rock n’ roll of all varieties, he’s been writing, recording, and performing his own music since 2013, while honing his own distinctive sound.
Stumbling upon one of Cheadle’s performances, Ryan Boldt, band member of the Deep Dark Woods, enjoyed his performance so much, he invited him to join the band. Deep Dark Woods, based on the east coast of Canada, draws lines from Celtic folk songs to country blues, which would fit in the realm of Cheadle’s musical direction.
Touring with the band for several years, the singer also set aside time to create his own works, and stayed true to his artistry, which is how Fault Line Serenade came about. Drawing influence from his collection of classic records which include Bobbie Gentry, Bert Jansch and Tim Hardin to name a few, the singer felt a need to dive into these for overall inspiration for his own tracks.
The new album very much so incorporates the vintage atmosphere and overall feel by such songwriters of yore. One song that struck me was one of the early tracks, “Sorrow in the Morning.” With such compelling instrumentation from the beginning, it leaves you wondering what will happen next, while highlighting his voice, which draws you in like a magnet. Rich in timbre and warm in color, this song shows the dynamic sound he achieves throughout the album.
Having such interest in Americana and folk music growing up, Cheadle achieves this in his own stripped-down folk-ballad, “Ice Water.” Sometimes all you need is a simple guitar melody and a clear voice, which is evident in this particular song. Not many people can pull off such a simple melody, but this is where he thrives highlighting more off-kilter yet pleasing chords and notes.
Not only do his vocals shine, but he delivers distinct instrumentation that strikes right away. Analogue Magazine discussed him and his music saying, “Cheadle’s intricate guitar picking and delicate vocals instantly transport listeners to a diverse musical world inhabited by the likes of Bert Jansch, Nick Drake and Harry Nilsson, all-the-while avoiding nostalgia’s tepid waters; Cheadle, it seems, stands outside of time.” Enough can’t be said about his knack for channeling the classic folk-styles with authenticity and charm.
With most of the album recorded in a home studio, he had the time and space to make all of the songs truly his own. He says this record has more of a textured sound with harmony vocals, violin, organ, bass, drums, and so on. With such a full sound and riveting arrangements, this album is not to be overlooked.
