Listen to This: Eric Lichter “Chorduroy”
‘Chorduroy’ is a 15 track sampling of Lichter’s songwriting prowess and poise. With single word song titles you may immediately think simplicity, but the songwriter’s approach is anything but. With complex and well thought arrangements he unearths a landscape of organic and beautiful sounds that wrap up around you like a warm blanket and the flames of a fire gently lick the air around your face. Comfort, reassurance, and relief sweep over my body as I listen to Eric’s songs. His voice has a way of just emitting pleasantness and wonder. He is truly one of the great voices of the Northeast playing roots and folk today.
I thoroughly enjoy the mash up of story songs and quick little instrumentals such as ‘tumbleweed’. It creates a storied palette for Lichter to take your hand and pull you along across. Really this record listens almost as a storybook. He puts himself all out there. When he sings even the notions of negative emotion, it is so heartfelt and sincere that it comes across in a way that just makes you want to hug the gent. The epitome of someone you just like, even if you don’t know them. ‘Gray’ is one of my favorites from the mix. With its acoustic guitar driving parts and the multi-harmonies by the one songwriter. Listen, really listen to everything here. It is so worth it. The words, the music, the depth of these songs is remarkable.
The instrumentation and musicianship is impeccable without being overproduced. Guitars and tube amps and organs and all sorts of textures embedded that will entrench themselves in your soul. It’s just played so well, but not polished to the point of plastic. More like glass, the glass of tubes warmed to the perfect temp and reverberating so wonderfully. The harmonies…god, the harmonies. I cannot explain them, you just need to listen and then you will get it.
Lichter’s voice lends itself to comparisons to Neil Young. Given his influences it’s not surprising and the fact that much of his music is recorded on vintage equipment and instruments from the 60s and 70s. There is just something warm and good about his music. It harkens back to the time when music was just made for the sake of making it. In a world where it traveled by word of mouth when it was worth talking about. So, you heard it here: I strongly urge everyone to pick up ‘Chorduroy’ today and listen to it all the way through…many times.
