Two by The Chapin Sisters
LABEL: Lake Bottom Records ||| RELEASE: September 14, 2010

Running around New York City, trying to catch my breath, I decided to give The Chapin Sisters’ newest album, Two, another listen as I worked my way from point A to point B. Instantaneously, I was captured by the opening track. As a calm came over me, I was reminded why music is so essential and so magnificent. The tension that overwhelmed me began to melt away as the music flowed into my being. Everything was suddenly OK. It stuck me how miraculous it is that mere mortals can use music to communicate in a way that is both otherworldly and intensely spiritual. I have known this of course, but in a mortal world it can easily be forgotten.

“The Chapin Sisters succeeded in reminding me
that there is something bigger than me that is the
source for all the love in the world”

The Chapin Sisters come from an intensely musical family and grew up saturated in American roots music and folk-rock. They attended a private school as children that emphasized music education through orchestral music and old English folk ballads, and sang on over a dozen studio albums throughout elementary school and high school. They have since recorded vocals on a number of albums by a variety of artists. It makes sense then, that their voices and vocal harmonies are so precise, glorious and well sculpted, and that their song writing is so compelling.

Every song on the album offers something a little different. “Roses In Winter” is a powerful ballad, straight-ahead and dripping with heartache and heavy lyrics, where “Digging A Hole” is tribal sounding, and highlights the girls’ powerful command of percussion. A number of the tracks are rooted in folk, down home country and blues, but colored with various hues of electronic, psychedelic and classical influence.

The track that bears the most wait is the first track, “Sweet Light”. The majority of the track consists of the sisters’ velvety baroque-like vocal harmonies, and when the instrumentation finally comes in, it is sparse, allowing the vocals to take precedence. The effect is absolutely stunning, and while the remaining tracks are wonderful, I was a hair disappointed that the album didn’t continue in the same vain.

The aforementioned disappointment, is secondary in comparison with the overall achievement of Two. It rests on how The Chapin Sisters succeeded in reminding me that there is something bigger than me that is the source for all the love in the world—and that it can be accessed through music.


REVIEWED BY LYNN SHER
LYNN’S FAVORITE TRACKS: “Sweet Light” • “Digging A Hole” • “Roses In Winter”
Lynn is also a musician and songwriter. Check out her latest project, The SaVAgE KiNGs


FREE MP3: “Palm Tree” (right-click & save)