The Timeless Music of Maine’s David Mallett

David Mallett
“Parallel Lives”
Flying Fish Records
1997

Between 1977 and 2016, David Mallett recorded over a dozen albums. He wrote songs recorded by Emmylou Harris, "Red, Red Rose”; Alison Krauss, “Never Got Off the Ground”; Kathy Mattea, “Summer of My Dreams”; and Hal Ketchum, “Old Soldiers,” as well as the folk classic “Garden Song.” Although the Maine native found some success as a songwriter in Nashville, he never entirely broke into the mainstream as an artist. This is truly unfortunate, as Mallett is a remarkable talent and his music deserves a wider audience.

I first discovered Mallett in the bargain bin of a used record store in the mid-1990s. The CD was “For a Lifetime,” and I quickly acquired his entire catalog and have followed his career ever since. The friendly warmth in Mallett’s sweet baritone voice is like sitting on your back porch, sharing tales with an old friend. He effortlessly delivers superb, articulate storytelling that explores the human condition, including its triumphs and failures, loves and losses.

During his career, Mallett released three live albums. His 1997 album, “Parallel Lives," recorded live at a club in Dublin, New Hampshire, is an excellent starting point for those unfamiliar with his work, as it captures his warmth, wit, and charming stage presence. He sings many of his best-known songs, along with a mix of new ones, accompanied by his acoustic guitar, and is joined by Steven Sheehan on guitar and Mike Burd on bass.

His relatable songs focus on people who live and work the land through both hard times and good, sometimes reflecting on life’s fragility, as in “Closer to Truth,” which considers the sudden loss of a close friend. “My Old Man” is a heartfelt tribute to his father, and “Phil Brown” honors an artist friend he met in his youth. Mallett skillfully celebrates the simple joys of daily life, the embrace of family and friends, and his love of New England and the riches of nature as the seasons unfold over the years.

David Mallett's life journey ended on December 17, 2024, following a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. He was a much-loved and admired native son in his beloved Maine and will be greatly missed worldwide by all who were blessed to enjoy his artistry. If you've yet to discover his music, you are in for a rewarding adventure. 

The Hello Darlins Hit All the Right Notes

The Hello Darlins
“The Alders & The Ashes”
Continental Record Services
2024

Canadian Americana band The Hello Darlins consists of highly skilled session musicians who have spent years refining their craft by supporting other artists. In 2016, the three founding members—Candace Lacina as lead vocalist, Mike Little on keyboards and vocals, and Murray Pulver on guitar—formed the group, which often features a stellar cast of guest musicians they’ve met throughout their musical journey. The band delivers a contagious collection of well-crafted original songs with an easygoing, positive vibe.

The band’s second album, “The Alders & The Ashes,” fulfills the promise of their impressive 2021 debut, “Go by Feel.” This release features two CDs of engaging songs, highlighted by Lacina’s beautiful, expressive vocals and an outstanding group of guest musicians, including Russell Broom on guitar, Chad Cromwell on drums, and Bob Glaub on bass. Themes explored here span a wide range of life experiences and emotions, all while holding onto hope.

The collection starts with “Forgiving Cain and Loving Abel,” exploring themes of dealing with pain and conflicting feelings. This is followed by the album's best track, “What Is a Broken Heart For?”, an upbeat, sassy supplication that should be played on every country radio station. Next, J.D. Edwards lends his vocals to “Sea That Meets the Sky,” which contemplates life’s greater meaning.

The next two songs, “Lay Down Low” and “Highway 355,” are clearly very personal. While the former aims to slow down and process life as it comes, the latter is a loving reflection on a loved one lost to dementia. This is followed by Dave Fenley’s well-timed, beautiful, and humble guest vocals on “Better Days,” which is an uplifting assertion that better times are coming.

“Don't You Fall” envisions our existence from nature's vantage point, contemplating what trees have observed and "the conversations that you have overheard." It is an intriguing thought that underscores the depth of Lacina and Little’s songwriting.

Failed relationships are left behind on “Carefree Arizona,” and “Died with His Boots On” is an upbeat tribute to Lacina’s grandfather’s life, featuring her lively yodeling performance.

“Reasons to Cry” candidly expresses the grief and heavy emotions that come with losing a loved one, while “Best Worst Mistake” explores the feelings that arise after the end of a relationship. One of the album's standout moments features the breathtaking, yearning vocals of guest artist Ruby Friedman on the poignant track “Lonely Shore,” which conveys a deep sense of longing.

The uptempo “Mama Knows” celebrates drawing emotional strength through a maternal spirit. Guitarist Murray Pulver then takes center stage with his lead vocals on “Do It Up Right,” a song about living with passion and embracing life.

The album ends with “Devil in the Dark,” a blues-inspired track that examines our darker motives, and “Stranger in the Mirror,” featuring Martin Sexton's guest vocals, which expresses the discontent of losing our sense of self through pretension and compromise.

The best quality in music is authenticity, and The Hello Darlins deliver exactly that. They are honest poets and musicians of the highest caliber, whose sincerity and collective talent will continue to grow their audience. 

Gunning & Cormier's Tales of Grit, Courage, and Hope

Gunning & Cormier
“Leather and Dust"
Gunning & Cormier (self-released)
2023

Pushing the limits of two voices, two guitars, and the many instruments played by each musician, Canadian troubadours Dave Gunning and John Paul "J.P." Cormier joined forces once again as Gunning & Cormier, releasing their second album as a duo, “Leather and Dust,” in 2023. The ten-song collection offers a well-balanced mix of original songs and familiar covers. 

The opening tracks, "Sing Now" and "Leather and Dust," are about finding strength and joy through song in hard times and celebrating the joys and pains of life’s journey with perseverance. "Try To Get Over It" seeks healing and common ground in a failing relationship, while the duo's cover of The Killers' "Human" celebrates our humanity through our imperfections. This is followed by "There Was A Time," which revisits Tom Pacheco's nostalgic reflection on days gone by.

"You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" is a fine cover of Darrell Scott’s song about coal miners in Kentucky, with beautiful harmonies and compelling vocals that convey understanding and sincerity. 

The artists have said "Here’s To Nova Scotia” was inspired by a desire to write an uplifting song for Nova Scotia after the April 2020 shootings and fires. It’s a loving ode to the land and people of their homeland. 

The only flaw in this collection is the heavy-handed Gunning and Cormier-penned “Desperation,” which confronts tragedy, loss, and the choice to die in defeat or fight back. Though well-intentioned, this only burdens an otherwise solid set of songs. 

The project concludes with "Twice As Blue," a cover of Stompin' Tom Connors' ballad of lost love and a beautifully executed bluegrass rendition of the Alan Parsons Project's "Eye In The Sky."

Overall, this album delivers a strong collection of tales of grit, courage, and hope, with its greatest strength being the close two-part harmonies of Gunning and Cormier and a healthy dose of mandolin and banjo. 

Alecia Moore and Dallas Green = You+Me

You+Me
"Rose Ave."
RCA Records
2014

In 2014, the folk-rock duo You+Me was formed, featuring the unexpected musical collaboration between American pop icon Alecia Moore (Pink) and Canadian indie folk artist Dallas Green (City and Colour). Shedding their better-known alter egos, they created vibrant, richly poetic songs perfectly suited to their voices.

The elegant simplicity of each track on their acoustic folk debut album, "Rose Ave.," is a stunning achievement and a delight for the listener. The project was recorded in just eight days, featuring Moore on vocals and percussion, Green on guitar and vocals, Matt Kelly on piano, pedal steel guitar, and organ, and Alex Newport on bass.

The opener, “Capsized,” is a clever metaphor for lovers drifting apart like two ships in the night; like vessels taking on water, they find themselves beyond saving. “From a Closet in Norway (Oslo Blues)” is about retreating from a lover who has grown distant, regretfully questioning the meaning of everything, while “Gently” contemplates the end of life’s journey and being at peace with oneself and life’s eventual end.

“Love Gone Wrong” explores familiar post-relationship wreckage, but this time from both sides of the equation. The love-affirming ‘You and Me” is a lovely duet showcasing the full power and beauty of Moore and Green’s vocal dexterity. They possess a natural vocal quality that feels like it creates a whole new voice as their voices meld in perfect harmony.

“Unbeliever” is about holding on despite our fears and self-doubt, made possible by love’s sustaining promise. “Second Guess” is about being newly unencumbered by love and struggling to trust again.

Moore’s deeply personal “Break the Cycle” explores her journey toward healing and reconciliation with her mother, while Green’s “Open Door” is a heartfelt tribute to his parents. The album concludes with an acoustic cover of Sade’s “No Ordinary Love.”

Returning Home with Fernando Ortega

Fernando Ortega
“Home”
Myrrh Records
2000

In the year 2000, Fernando Ortega released one of the best albums of that year. Note, I’m not qualifying this statement by saying it is one of the best Contemporary Christian Music albums of the year. Yes, Ortega is known as a prominent artist in the genre, but “Home” stands as a beautiful masterwork, thoroughly enjoyable, and shouldn’t be confined to any sub-genre, as it stands strong without any music industry branding. At the same time, this isn’t a watered-down attempt at crossing over into the mainstream arena. His faith and values are on full display, as this is simply part of who he is. However, “Home” isn’t what my grandmother termed “so heavenly minded that it’s no earthly good.” Ortega walks the same streets and breathes the same air as the rest of us, and as one of us, he sings about what he sees and feels.

When the pre-release of this album arrived in my mailbox in early 2000, I was not familiar with this artist, although he had already released seven albums by then. I was immediately impressed with Ortega’s ability to deliver each song with conviction. He clearly believes in what he sings, which adds authenticity to this collection of carefully selected songs. Most of the songs are written or co-written by Ortega, and the set includes one traditional African-American spiritual, “Give Me Jesus.”

The album opens joyously with “This Good Day,” a song of joy and appreciation that radiates goodwill and feels like summer. Two of the album's finest moments are “Lonely Road” and “Virginia Rose,” with the former beautifully evoking the feeling of missing one’s lover and home while on the road. At the same time, the latter is a straightforward love song carried by the rousing violin of Stuart Duncan.

While celebrating the joys and loves of this life and the recurring theme of home, these songs do not shy away from the less comfortable aspects of life. “Old Girl" concerns a homeless woman who, despite outward disarray, maintains her dignity, whereas “On the Line” thoughtfully reflects on the lives of lonely elderly individuals.

Returning to the spiritual “Pass Me Not” is a faithful rendition of the 19th-century American hymn, followed by “No One Else,” an upbeat song of praise and thanksgiving similar to the album’s opener “This Good Day.”

“Prayer For Home” and “Winter Song” each feel occasion-specific, with the former suitable for weddings and the latter as a beautiful Christmas meditation. And finally, the spiritual “Give Me Jesus" completes the set.

The album’s warm, introspective tone is achieved with the help of a large and diverse group of outstanding musicians, including: Fernando Ortega on vocals, piano, and acoustic guitar; Steve Addabbo, Rich Nibbe, Dean Parks, Tad Wagner, Jon Hughes, George Cocchini, Bob Somma, Randy Mitchell, Greg Leisz, and Matt Slocum on guitars; Don Heffington and David Raven on drums; Jimmy Johnson and Tim Chandler on bass; John Andrew Schreiner (the album producer) on piano, organ, synthesizer, and accordion; and legendary violin player Stuart Duncan.