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.