REVIEW: Patty Larkin, a gogo (Vanguard Records)
- Jon Steltenpohl
Outside the confines of VH-1, there lives an underground culture of singer/songwriters who, for lack of a better word, are lumped into a category of "folk," and, despite legions of dedicated fans, seem to escape the notice of the world at large. In that world, Patty Larkin is one of the superstars, and her current album, a gogo is an album that keeps her solidly at the top.
These singer songwriters usually travel and play alone with just their guitar, and Larkin is no exception. a gogo is a greatest hits collection of in-concert recordings that truly capture the essence of the perfect, intimate folk concert. It is an album to be treasured by folk fans because it's like being there at the performance. Unlike most rock bands who can't even play their own hits, today's singer songwriters tour first and record albums later. It is an all too common occurrence to have a singer songwriter absolutely amaze you in concert and bore you to tears on CD. Often, they bring in studio musicians and have a producer do hurried arrangements in the few days they've rented the studio.
When it's done right, you get a Shawn Colvin album that wins a Grammy. But, more often than not, the incredible electricity of the live performer is completely lost in the sterile confines of the studio. a gogo captures the essence of Patty Larkin's concert sound so well that, if you close your eyes, you are sitting right there with her playing next to you. You can feel the strings vibrate and resonate as they're being struck, and you can hear all of the little nuances in Larkin's voice and breath. The multiple layers of rhythms and melodies she produces from a single acoustic guitar make it sound as if she's got at least two or three musicians behind her. And her smart lyrics and attitude make it a thoroughly uninhibited experience.
Simply put, a gogo is everything you could want in a modern folk album. It is energetic, intimate, complex, and unpretentious. Larkin simply recorded her concerts at every stop on her tour, and the result is a collection of the best performances from an incredible performer. The only way to go wrong with a plan like that is to have bad sound equipment, and a gogo is recorded flawlessly. Quite simply, Patty Larkin's a gogo is a must have for fans of acoustic music.
