Mary Ann Casale – Where I Belong
It took ten years, and now, finally, the third album from Mary Ann Casale has been released. Not that she has been idle in the meantime. For much of that time, she performed with Tas Cru, taking those performances across the US and Europe, and she contributed to his records. Additionally, she continued writing her own material, which has now appeared on her new album “Where I Belong”. This time, the roles were reversed, and Tas contributed to her record. ‘No more than fair,’ he confided to me earlier this year when I met them in Berlin.
Mary Ann Casale has been performing since her high school days and was mainly found in local coffee houses, campuses, and clubs. Her style is reminiscent of the folk and blues of people like John Fahey and Mississippi Fred McDowell, while her guitar playing reflects the fingerpicking style of Rev. Gary Davis. After a break of around thirty years, she decided to pick up music again, resulting in 2014 in her first album “Running Out Of Time”, containing thirteen self-written songs. Two years later, it was followed by “Restless Heart”.
And now “Where I Belong” is available. Of the ten songs, six are her own compositions, three are by Tas Cru, and one was written by both. Mary Ann is assisted by Tas Cru (various guitars, bass, and vocals), Ron Keck (drums, percussion), Scott Ebner (accordion, organ), and Edgar Pagan and Bob Purdy, who share bass duties. In terms of style, she has returned to the folk, blues, and roots she played early in her career. The album title already indicates this: the place where I belong. The cover photo is a second hint. It was taken in the green room of Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY, under the poster featuring Bob Dylan, Suze Rotolo, and Lena Spencer. It is the oldest folk club in the US where, among others, Dylan and Pete Seeger performed. A place where Mary Ann feels completely at home.
The opening track, “Where I Belong” describes the longing for home, and when she is back home, she longs again for performing. Other songs that impress me are the emotionally sung “I Would Know” and “Favourite Song”, written by Tas Cru, whose distinctive guitar playing simply stands out.
In conclusion, I can say that “Where I Belong” is a beautiful album by Mary Ann Casale. Each track tells the listener something. Every song is worth listening to carefully. An absolute recommendation, one of my favourites of the year. (9/10) (Subcat Music)
