Cornelius Eady Trio Returns with "Painting" (Acoustic), the crafts an evocative, soul-stirring collection of rhythmic poetry and melody in an intimate acoustic setting. "Painting" leads you on a deeply personal journey through sound and sentiment with delicate arrangements and lyrical storytelling that recalls Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, and Joni Mitchell.
The eight tracks on the record are centered on a tight-knit interplay between Cornelius Eady's melodic, compelling vocals, Charlie Rauh's mellifluous yet complicated free-flowing guitar parts, and Lisa Liu's multi-layered, delicate, snapping accompaniments. Reductionist "Painting" takes the key components of their art and shines a light on its naked beauty, as Eady vibrates through a canvas of emotion with sound and word.
"Painting" is prayerful but open, setting the stage immediately for the inward-looking, heartful experience. The music video is an art gallery, with a color palette representing all the emotions "Painting" contains.
One of the highlights is "Come and Take Your Boy," a song that aches with yearning and quiet defiance. This is an example of the type of deeply felt storytelling that reverberates long after the sound of the music has died away. Also compelling is "Rich Man and the Reaper," which rises in urgency while containing a ghostly rumination on fate, riches, and death.
Clocking in at just over 27 minutes, "Painting" is proof of the vitality of acoustic music at its most primal. The Cornelius Eady Trio approaches an album that never asks for attention but asks to be earned through its soft-spoken intensity, delicately intimate delivery, and poignant lyricism.
For those who love folk, acoustic storytelling, and personal songcraft, "Painting" is a must-have addition to some of the year's most compelling releases.