Paul Cafcae – Banks of Marble (2024)
Establishing himself as a pioneer in the Canadian music scene, singer-songwriter Paul Cafcae fuses Americana music with Slavic lyricism in impressive, almost palpable waves of sound. While Cafcae has experience performing with bands across Europe and North America, it is his recent work that catches our fancy. Following his move to Canada, Cafcae continued touring and releasing original music finally finding a unique blend of rockabilly, blues, country and folk. Not only has this Canada-based musician won the hearts of audiences at live shows, but his award-winning tunes also turn heads internationally featuring on radio stations and notable publications across the globe. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Banks of Marble’.
Disregarding his 2022 live sessions album, Live at Annette Studios, ‘Banks of Marble’ is Paul Cafcae’s first release since 2021’s album Where I Am and single ‘Longest Day of the Year’. While his fusion of blues and rockabilly with splashes of country exudes from previous material, ‘Banks of Marble’ delves into a deeper, darker flood of blues wrapped in a blanket of Americana. Interestingly, while the song is not as toe-tapping as ‘Longest Day of the Year’ or ‘Down To The River’, its hard-hitting dreariness has an uplifting soothing harmony made to bring people together.
Unafraid to reach the grittier sides of reality, ‘Banks of Marble’ uses blues-inspired tones to grapple with your soul, reach into your heart and have you teetering on the brink of something special – comfortable or not remains to be seen. Ethan Tilbury’s upright bass brings a heart-breaking forcefulness to the song, while Dianna Herrera’s precise drumming pulsates like a pumping heartbeat pushing life through the body. Cafcae’s guitar binds the melody with a dynamic shout while his vocals float along with gruff rawness.
One thing I find intriguing about Paul Cafcae is how his melodies perfectly capture the themes of his songs. Witnessing the deteriorating working and living conditions across Canada, ‘Banks of Marble’ explores the “pronounced inequality in the levels of democratic agency between the people and their employers…”, and its melody embodies repression, depression and degradation. It is the flowing of blood in the worker’s veins, the thought processes rocking about their craniums, and the anthem for anyone living in such situations.
Find out more about Paul Cafcae on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Discover more Americana tunes on The Other Side Reviews Americana playlist:
