Cathedral CD Reviews

Sum is Greater than Parts
John Kendle -Uptown Magazine, Winnipeg,MB

Jacob and Lily are drummer/percussionist Caleb Friesen and pianist/guitarist/vocalist Karla Adolphe, an earthy folk/roots/pop duo whose collective sound is far greater than the sum of its parts. Much of this sense of richness is due to Friesen’s expressive use of any number of percussive elements, as well as the addition of bass, cello, Wurlitzer and organ. But, truly, the real stars of this album are Adolphe’s incredible voice — an instrument unto itself — and the duo’s intuitive arrangements, which heighten the sense of devotional resolve and emotional purity in Adolphe’s non-specific lyrics of love, longing and hope. In the hands of other producers this material might become overly melodramatic, but Friesen, Adolphe and production collaborator Jordan Jackiew have realized that less is more, and the result is a sense of musical communion that may well be overpowering when heard live.

Thoughtful Intimate Release
Elisabeth Lardie – Times Record, Brunswick, Maine

Jacob and Lily, a duo from Winnipeg, Manitoba, performing roots, pop and folk music, consists of neither a Jacob or a Lily, but music artists Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen.
But that’s hardly the biggest surprise of the groups first CD, “The Cathedral Project.”

The album was recorded in a theater, restaurant, church and their homes in an effort to “capture raw and organic sounds that represent our thoughts and feelings about our music and the world that we live in.” The intent was to create a “journey of conversation, community and the interaction between creativity and people,” according to the liner notes.

It was an earthy — almost impetuous — process. Some songs were recorded in front of a handful of friends at a local eatery. The final track, “Hold Onto You,” was recorded minutes after it was written in Winnipeg’s All Saints Anglican Church. Yet the song is so measured, it could hardly be mistaken for a rush job.

The process helped to shape a stripped down yet engrossingly heady final product. The multitude of delicate layers in the music mesh to form a strong sound — both familiar and refreshingly new.

Adolphe’s voice careens through melodies with a surprisingly meaty amount of soul considering the album is a gentle listen. That full-bodied sound rises to all-out power on tracks such as “Ruby,” where Adolphe manages to hit a near-full belt without shattering the easiness of the song’s atmosphere. But she can also compose herself into a hush as if confessing the most sensitive secrets.

All the while, Friesen’s myriad rhythm-scapes move underneath, sometimes an emphasis on the music, sometimes ethereally elusive. The painstaking attention to detail in the percussion is most compelling on this album, particularly on the opening track “I’ll See You Off,” in which Adolphe’s rich, silky vocals are delicately accented with tinkles from a triangle or chimes and balanced by warm drumbeats.

The cello accents playing off Friesen’s percussion toward the close of “Build a Tower” have the quiet dynamics of a nagging thought in the back of the mind.

The album’s only shortcoming is that a steady similar tempo meanders through from beginning to end; one that seems to evolve at times, but not really to ever change, without inspirations enough to shake up the pace. But if that’s the weakest link, what’s left is still one incredibly strong chain.

Yet even within the album’s contemplative mood, there are flecks of humor and whimsy quietly slipped in, as if to see if anyone notices.

“This album was made by robots made by super-computers made by robots,” it says on the back cover.

Jacob and Lily may want to delve into the dialogue of community and creativity, but it seems Adolphe and Friesen aren’t taking their artist inquiry too seriously. Seriously yes, but not too. Which means that academics, indie fans, and those with indiscriminate and discriminate tastes will all have something to connect with.

Chemistry
Café 100.7 FM Music Department, Winnipeg, MB

The Cathedral is a poignant reminder that music is everywhere around us, and not limited to a studio setting… For a relatively new partnership, there is an audible chemistry between Jacob and Lily which is complemented by frequent flashes of brilliance in their songwriting… We look forward to hearing more from and about these very ‘real’ artists, and are proud to showcase them on CAFÉ 100 alongside the seemingly never-ending talent Winnipeg artists have to offer.

8.5 out of 10
Calvin Daniels – Yorkton This Week, Yorkton, SK Canada

Jacob & Lily are an acoustic-driven, roots/pop duo from Winnipeg. Their music pays homage to a folk spirit, although the music has pop overtones. To the pair’s credit they don’t go so far with the pop as to water down the music, leaving it little more than sugar-coated verbiage set to music. There is great depth to the music here. They honour the roots style in that regard, keeping the music important.

Jacob and Lily are Karla Adolphie and Caleb Friesen, who cover all the instruments here, although it is important to note as roots music often is, the instrumentation is kept relatively simple here. It provides a nice compliment to Adolphie’s voice, which has a haunting quality, and is clearly the strength of this material.
In reading about the duo, some have likened Adolphie to Sarah McLaughlin and Jann Arden. Both are fair comparisons. There are certainly vocal elements shared by Adolphie and McLaughlin, and since she is the writer here too, I see flashes of the same lyrical style of early Arden.
Yes, that’s just how good this young lady is.

Friesen for his part, as the percussionist is a good match, willing to take a back seat to the talented songstress, but in so doing, adding a richness to the material.
This CD has several songs which are very rich. Adolphie has a practiced hand in writing songs too, and the duo’s style allows the words to be the focus for the listener’s consideration and understanding. I particularly like I’ll See You Off, Ruby, End of Play and Hush.

That is one of the things that is truly pleasing here, Adolphie wants the listener to get inside the song with her. She gives you the words in a crystal clear fashion, hoping you will turn them over in your mind to better share the emotions and messages woven into the lyrics. Too often these days the words seem secondary to the material groups are offering. Jacob & Lily understand that following a roots path means keeping the lyrics at the forefront. This is a duo that would be great to hear live in a small, friendly venue over a cup of coffee.

Pretty Blend of Ethereal Pop, Folk and Americana
Muruch Entertainment Blog – http://muruch.blogspot.com

Jacob and Lily are Canadian folk duo Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen. Their 2006 debut The Cathedral features a pretty blend of ethereal pop, folk and Americana, with exotic flourishes courtesy of world percussion instruments. The album was recorded in a theatre, restaurant, church, and the artists’ homes to capture the band’s organic sound. Like Rose Palenzani, I discovered the music of Jacob and Lily when they were named finalists in the Mountain Stage NewSong Festival – Jacob and Lily were chosen to perform at live at the venue.

The opener “I’ll See You Off” is an unusually beautiful and haunting piece of Americana, while “Ruby” is a more standard and catchier folk tune. The chill-producing keens and piano ballad beginning of “Build A Tower” give away to a hypnotic display of percussion. It as well as the slightly softer strings of “Lucky Stars” show that Karla’s voice has a range and power to rival Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards.

‘Hush’ is the perfect title for one of the quieter ballads on the album, as Karla’s voice is an angelic whisper over the gentle instrumentation with the exception of the occasional wail. The rest of the songs may not stand out as much individually, but the whole is unique and lovely.”