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The Waifs: Sun Dirt Water

Waif, n. Something found and unclaimed, as an object cast up by the sea. - American Heritage Dictionary

review by Herb Folsom

Found in: | Inside | Books |

It's safe to say that music fans will be combing the beaches as the tide of these newly released tunes by The Waifs hit the shores. Back from a two-year hiatus, The Waifs have returned to the touring lifestyle, anything but lost or unclaimed. Recently acknowledged by Western Australian Music for Song of the Year, Sun Dirt Water, penned by band member Vikki Thorn, this number is a sexy, smoky blues title track. The award-winning number features a strong, yet subtle double bass line by Ben Franz that blends craftily with David Ross MacDonald's drums and percussion. Thorn's sister, Donna Simpson, also sings and harmonizes throughout Sun Dirt Water, a folk rock album driven by the two talented vocalists. Josh Cunningham provides guitar, ukulele, lyrics, and vocals, as well.

A mix of blues and rock 'n' roll styles is woven throughout the album, if only subdued from time to time to create pleasing dynamics. The musicianship is superb with equal praise for the heartfelt lyrics and song arrangements of the 13 original tracks. Each song has a lot of heart and soul in it. The tracks take you on a ride anywhere from sentimentality to driving rock 'n' roll with stops in between. Good song writing paints a picture in a listener's mind: "It don't get much worse than Winter South Dakota / my pa was as drunk as a bar room rag," from Simpson's cut "Vermillion." Artists have a way of speaking for all of us, often with a degree of soul searching adding depth and meaning: "baby there's no such thing as goodbye / just an interlude on a long wild ride," from Cunningham's "Without You."

Another strength of Sun Dirt Water is the tasteful guitar arrangements, both acoustic and electric. Cunningham's fingerstyle guitar on "Eternity" is counterbalanced by a rock the house electric on "How Many Miles." In addition, the band works in pedal and lap steel guitar by Don Dugmore. Other musicians include Reese Wynans on piano, Wurlitzer, and Hammond B3 organ. Another tangent within is found with Jeff Coffin of the Flecktones on clarinet accompanying Josh on ukulele for an old time melancholy number called "Feeling Sentimental." Not to be overlooked is Thorn's stellar harmonica playing, reminiscent at times of Paul Butterfield's Blues Band.

Sun Dirt Water, the Waif's fifth studio album, reflects the previous international success of a band formed some 15 years ago. Destiny seems to play a part in the overall sound of the band. The comfort level of these professional musicians makes for an easy collaborative expression that grabs and holds the listener.

This year finds the band on tour in the U.S. where the on-stage chemistry can only be enhanced by playing in front of a live audience. Sun Dirt Water is nothing short of interesting, energizing, and expressive. The band looks forward to getting back on the road and showing everyone what it's all about.

The Waifs play live August 29-31 at the Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs, Colo.

Herb Folsom is a guitar-playing member of "Roscoe," a duo that swings the blues out of Mancos, Colo.