Abi Tapia
The Beauty in the Ruin
Moon House Records
visit Abi's website
and on myspace
also available on
amazon
There are 12 consistently strong songs on this third disc by this husky voiced Austin based singer, and they never settle, but remain in what might be called a Modern Folk or Country Rock sensibility. She might well be someone who has been flying under the radar of many outside of Austin, however this disc should get her much more notice. It is solid and complete from beginning to the end, there is not a throwaway cut on the disc; she wrote all of the 12 tunes and more than proves her mettle as a songwriter. There is a consistent bittersweet sensibility that pervades the disc but never overwhelms it. There is a power in her voice that never lets you sink into melancholia, but consistently keeps you going. Plus there is this gathering of Austin All-Stars that is backing and providing some of the tastiest musical excursions around without ever taking away from either the lyrics or the vocals. Chris Gage produced the disc; he also contributes
the guitars, keyboards, mandolin, dobro, percussion, and background vocals. He is able assisted with Glenn Fukunaga providing some of the best bass lines around; Bruce Logan on drums; Eleanor Whitmore on violin; Buzz Evans on some tasty pedal steel guitar; Christine Albert and Bill Small on background vocals. With sensitivity and directness in songs like “Get It and Go,” “Just Let Me Go,” and The Last Waltz,,” there is little doubt that this woman is heading towards far bigger stages. This is a disc my ears don’t want removed from the rotation.