Pamela Richardson
Chicago, Illinois, United States | INDIE
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Sainte-Fortunat
Pamela Richardson
SteadyBoy SB-0023
Touching new singer-songwriter from many places
Richardson’s a folkie-Americana-singer-songwriter (she made a bit of a name for herself with The Pralines) who comes from Chicago but has now received the Austin seal of approval. This album is produced by Freddie Krc, at the heart of the city’s roots-rocking scene. He brings along gifted guitarist Cam King (long-time campadre in The Explosives) and bassist Layton DePenning (who’s played with his own combos the Shakin’ Apostles and Freddie Steady 5) and plays drums himself, creating a gently powerful sound around Richardson’s winsome material and singing. Much relates to her visit to Provence, hence the French flavour of the title and songs like the title track, Michel and What Happens in the Village. There’s a French-Canadian touch, too, with Quebecois Cowgirl, while Spaghetti Midwestern shows another strand. Then King’s bass lead on Ballad of a Corsair creates a wicked borderlands feel while on the lovely Blue Hour of Twilight he gets out the 12-string for a Byrdsian ring. Richardson’s earthy vocals are delectable, often somewhere between Karen Carpenter and Jim Morrison, which is curious but strangely attractive. A name to watch.
– Nick Dalton
- Nick Dalton, September 2008
Sainte-Fortunat
By Nick West
Sainte-Fortunat is a delightful collection of songs of romantic exile set in the south of France and Montreal, recorded by a Chicago singer in Austin, Texas, with members of Roky Erickson’s backing band. It’s gentle, folky Americana, flecked with jangle and desert-rock flourishes. Unsurprising, as the production is courtesy of that paisley prairie dog Freddie Steady Krc; and his fellow Explosive, Cam King, is present to add incendiary guitar.
There’s a pleasing variety to the tempo and touches, and Richardson’s tales and observations are always novel and nuanced; she’s really a fine lyricist. Also, a mid-80s sensibility is apparent, though not in a retro sense. The castanets and Spanish guitar stylings of “Ballad of a Corsair” evoke the early Tucson sound, while the pacier songs, like “Passion Simple,” are redolent of Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs.
Then the title track kicks off like it’s an early REM song, and keeps up a joyous tempo over five minutes-plus, of celebrating new experience and new love. It’s the standout and the centrepiece of a well-wrought record that brings continual rewards.
- Nick West (Sept/Oct 2008)
SteadyBoy Records (www.steadyboy.com)
She's been everywhere, man, she's been everywhere, son. Pamela's been based in France, Austin and Chicago. Her work reflects a lifetime of experience in all three places. She sings with a moderate French inflection that she may not even hear herself. Her music is most assuredly Texan, though, not at the cost of an overall “sidewalk café” feel. Richardson's music is difficult to pigeonhole, and frankly, I wouldn't care to. She's not Insurgent Country, she's certainly not a Rogers Park Folkie, and she's not one of those cute girls you saw ten years ago, pretending to be Suzanne Vega down at the coffee house (she IS cute, though). Her singing style is sort of breathy, a little bit deep, you'll think you have a melody figured out in your head, and it'll go up when you expect it to come down. She'll sing with the beat, over the beat, and even under the beat. She is always in control but nothing is forced. She'll take you on a musical road trip, based on several real-life roadtrips. A new voice for the 21st Century, one that pulls from 50s Jazz and 60s Rock stylings. It's fair to say she could handle many tones and tempos, but here we're treated to a softer, more seductive tone. Aided by Cam King and Freddie Krc from The Explosives, who play with a quiet intensity, which is perhaps the best way to describe this effort.
-- Gentleman John Battles - Gentleman John Battles, Summer 2008
Discography
Spaghetti Midwestern (2003) - solo EP, indie release
Song of the Day Cafe / The Pralines (2005) - Spade Kitty Records
Sainte-Fortunat (2008) - solo, SteadyBoy Records
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Bio
Singer songwriter Pamela Richardson presents love songs in a resonant voice, expressing a fluid range. Her CD Song of the Day Café, featuring her band The Pralines, blends rich slices of Americana with a decidedly 60s flavor. Song of the Day Café is available from Amazon.com, Spade Kitty Records (www.spadekitty.com) and CDBaby (www.cdbaby.com).
SAINTE-FORTUNAT is HERE! Anticipated solo CD, recorded in Austin and produced by Freddie Steady Krc (Roky Erickson/Explosives). Released on SteadyBoy Records April 2008.
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