There is little doubt that Therapy, the fates new full-length CD,
marks another page in the trio’s history and another step in
their evolution. But it’s a step longtime fans will have little trouble
keeping up with because, just as it was on their two previous
releases, ’Til We Have Faces and Slam! the harmonies of Lin Elder,
Jenny Allen and Lori Reid remain front and center.
These are voices that embody every emotion you’ve ever felt. Voices
to accompany you on long drives while you drum your fingers on
the steering wheel. Voices you can crawl under the covers and fall
in love with.
Empty handed, this would still be a trio that commands your
attention. But with a mastery of percussion and guitar between
the three of them, the fates certainly have more than their buoyant vocals to rely on when they enter
the studio. And this time they’ve upped the ante, working with a phenomenal talent pool who take
Therapy to another plane. Besides re-enlisting the able of talents of Nashville producer Miles Wilkinson
and regular players Mike Lent (bass) and multi-instrumentalist Gary Koliger, they’ve also tapped the
renowned talents of Kenny Malone and Colin Linden.
Malone has been the percussionist of choice for the likes of Johnny Cash, Allison Kraus and Bela Fleck,
to name the smallest handful of credits. Juno award winning Colin Linden is one of the greatest
Canadian guitarists playing today, a regular member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings who has played,
written and produced for innumerable talents including Lucinda Williams, Emmy Lou Harris and Bruce
Cockburn. Together, they join a lineup whose depth allows for lush, folky pop, zesty blues-driven
numbers and acoustic-ridden melancholy – fitting whatever mood the fates want to employ.
Lin Elder’s haunting, sensual voice is on two of Jann Arden’s multi-platinum albums. Lori Reid’s debut
album Radio was produced by Grammy-winner John Sorensen of Beck and Rolling Stones fame. Jenny
Allen, a longtime folk-festival favourite and highly respected member of the Western-Canadian music
scene has racked up critical acclaim across the country and south of the border. Together they are the
cure for afflictions of the soul, three-part healing for heart-torn longings. Even if you are already in
good spirits you need – perhaps doubly so – Therapy.