Peter Case
Beeline
Vanguard Records
by William Michael Smith

Peter Case, "The Man With The Blue Post Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar," has always had a case of the mystic blues. Beeline reinforces Case's reputation as a deeper-than-average, off-center songwriter and an innovative performer. Very much concerning itself with values and "internals," it is more a post-George Harrison record than a post-9/11 record.

On Beeline, Case manages to cleverly tint his introspective, spiritual examinations with hints of Eastern music, which only adds to the spiritual aura. While it is essentially a folk singer-songwriter album, the songs are dressed up with surprisingly funky ensemble playing that features lots of interesting drumming (Sandy Chila) and some vigorous acoustic rhythm guitar by Case. Bassist Dave Meshell meshes with Chila and Case's acoustic guitar to generate the energetic funk that winds throughout this surprisingly loud quiet record. The "Eastern effect" is provided by Andrew William's harmonium, Warren "Tornado" Klein's tamboura, and Joshua Case's electronic guitar and computer sounds. Williams produced and engineered the album, and he has taken the quiet acoustic folk base of Case's songs and layered them with all sorts of interesting sounds that provide brilliant colors and ear-catching texture. It may not be a soul album, but as always Case sings with lots of it.

From the opening "If You've Got a Light to Shine," almost a countrified blues at its core, Case's bluesy harmonica is counterbalanced in an exquisite tension with the simulated sitar sounds and the tamboura. With Chila's drums popping in the mix, the effect is like having a bee inside the cranium. Case follows up with a citified blues on "Evening Raga." Meshell's base is literally a pumping heart.

Evenin' coffee, bring in the sheaves
My voice is crackin' like old dry leaves
If I could make another start
I'd go and find the motion in my heart

I tried and tried, it didn't work out
After a while, I had my doubts
I couldn't make a dream come true
I had to go and leave it up to you

Always known as an accomplished guitarist, Case's light, airy finger picking on "I Hear Your Voice" makes for a tune that is warm and easy. Case follows with "Lost in the Sky," where he assembles a tense, quirky rhythm texture as he is "lifted off in New York/quarter to nine." Despite the possibilities, this is not a commentary on 9/11, but is rather a very personal evaluation of values, priorities, and beliefs. What better stimulation for an examination of the internal compass and an ordering of priorities than sitting in an aluminum bird five miles up?

Falling through the thunderheads, adrift on a seed
We're numbers on a grid, mere lights on a screen
The love I hold for you is my guiding light
The human constellation that I steer by tonight
I'm too high, lost in the sky
Feel like I'm fallin' and I'm wonderin' why

"Gone" is the type of bluesy folk that has made Mr. Case a cultish figure in the California music community. He has that John Lennon ability to hit the common touch with simple words and images that add up to something intellectually pleasing and spiritually reassuring. Case masterfully steers back and forth between quiet folky tunes to groovy funk, giving the album a surprising cohesion rather than what could have ended up as a sense of jumping around. "Something's Coming" matches "Evening Raga" for musical sophistication as Case muses on the songwriting process and the mystery of artistic inspiration.

Hear the telephones scream and the doorbells cry
Doctor's gave you the warning, how much time?
Kids asleep in their little bunks, next room
You're up in the kitchen now, trying to find the tune
Pulling the strings, bending the sound
Riding the ropes but you ain't going down

Something's coming, don't know when
You know something's coming, you'll never be the same again

Cold and dirty perfectly describes Case's performance of the murky "It's Cold Inside." If Case's Plimsouls decide to make another comeback (and believe me, I'm waiting with my money in my hand!), "It's Cold Inside" should fit nicely into a Plimsoul's set list. But here Case delivers with spare acoustic deliberateness and, as with many of the tracks on Beeline, there is an itching sense of tension.

With a career that spans New Wave, folk, acoustic blues, and even a tribute to Merle Haggard (Tulare Dust), Peter Case is another of those performers who has so many credits and artistic triumphs we tend to simply yawn when he puts out another strong effort. Beeline is a strong effort, filled as it is with thoughtful songs of love, hope, and humanity as well as with evocative music played and mixed in unexpected ways. Despite a lack of pandering whistles and bells, there is nothing trite or common on Beeline. Despite being somewhat on the quiet, reflective side, it has considerable energy and verve. If Peter Case keeps making records like these, I may get over the death of The Plimsouls yet.

* Peter Case has an extensive website at www.petercase.com and there is purchase information and lyrics for Beeline at www.vanguardrecords.com/Beeline/home.html

 
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