REVIEW: Chet Delcampo, The Fountain (Record Cellar)
- Paul Andersen
Chet Delcampo is a Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter with a flair for melody and no concern at all with what is driving the current musical marketplace. He is a poetic tunesmith, already garnering comparisons to Elliott Smith, with an inward eye and a DIY attitude, and it is all reflected here on The Fountain. Surrounded by a few like-minded friends and cohorts - the credits of the few sidemen and guest producers include the Pixies, Nick Cave and the Eels - this album is a personal journey through an outsider's soul.
Surprisingly, there is nothing cold nor claustrophobic about this journey, because it is framed in shimmering production values and a tunefulness that would make Bacharach and Costello proud. With just the right tinges, he manages to evoke the perfect settings for each of the songs, whether it be the Chet Baker-like trumpet in the closing "To sleep" or the country-alt feel of "Coffee with Tom T. Hall."
Mostly though, The Fountain is an album to be savored over a few listenings, because it reaps forward sublime layers and melancholy colorings not readily apparent to a casual hearing. It is more a collective than a group of songs, and should be played as such. The rewards to be found within more than make up for the time spent.
