NEW M
SELECTIVE HEARIN
WATERDEEP
Tandem
In the late 1990s, singer/songwriter producer
Steve Taylor could do no wrong with his
Squint Record label, bringing forth projects
from the jangly Sixpence None the Richer
(including international smash “Kiss Me”),
virtuoso rockers Burlap to Cashmere,
ska band The Insyderz, and rappers L.A.
Symphony. One of the brightest stars in
Taylor’s firmament was the married team
of Don and Lori Chaffer. Their “Everyone’s
Beautiful” album went from rootsy rockers
and Eaglesy story-songs to an ambient,
droning rendition of Psalm 131. Numerous
equally worthy projects followed, including a
hippie “worship album before it was cool” that
birthed the popular “You Are So Good to Me,”
as well as two musical theater projects—one
a Southern-friend comedy, and one a nativity
story. The Chaffer’s newest project “Tandem”
shows they’ve lost none of their charm. As
always, they trade lead vocals from song to
song. Don still spins a memorable, literate
story-song. Lori’s vocals still cut through.
Guitar and piano comp
pizzicato strings (“Know
(“You Showing Up H
ponders the connectio
and Gethsemane. “W
letter to a wayward fr
offers a beautiful bene
The touching “Half of M
mourning over his reb
least a scene compa
moment. An affectin
effective collection.
46
June 2020