Review Text
Topeka is all about the angular alt.Americana roots music of one Fletcher Harrington, the wonderful voice of Tanya Livingstone, and the multi instrumental talent of Brit Collins. The songs slip from a straight ahead folky feel as evidenced on the opening cut 'Another Brilliant Day' and the very catchy version of Pink Floyd's 'Cymbaline,' but in between there are some of the most inventive, well crafted, delicate songs that it's been my pleasure to hear for years. From the dense metaphors of 'Sliding Scale' to the closing aching love song 'Ten Steps' there's unrelenting craftsmanship at work. On top of that there's also a clever inner structure at play with careful positioning of tracks based on tempo, feel, and pace. Fletcher is no ordinary song writer. His songs are undoubtedly based on a mix of personal experience, literary nuances, and personal melancholy. These tales of lost love and loneliness have a spare sound, capturing a feel of regret and remembrance. They do not seem written by someone who is satisfied, but rather by a man who is constantly searching and on the move. There is an unsettled beauty here, and visions of feelings that can never quite be resolved.
