Release Date: May 15, 2020
The Big Takeover by Mark Suppanz (June 2020)
On his third LP, Boston-based singer/drummer Baldrachi (ex-Krushr) moves away from the power-pop that dominated 2012’s Back to the Start – first released in 2011 as Tomorrow Never Knows – and 2006’s Solid Ground. Granted, the exuberant opening title track, with its blaring and soulful, Saints-evoking horns (courtesy brothers John and Scott Aruda), and the crunchy, harmony-filled “Side By Side,” show he can still crank out a Big Star/Posies-inspired rocker on cue. But Slow mostly finds an obsessively lovesick Baldrachi mining pedal steel-flecked country-folk and Sweetheart of the Rodeo-esque canyon rock, as on the sensitive “People Don’t Change,” sparkling “In My Heart,” and spirited “Killing Time.” Yet thanks to an array of 15 proficient supporting players such as guitarist/co-songwriter Gary Rand, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages guitarist Milt Reder, and alluring backing vocalist Ingrid Gerdes, and its luminous, full-bodied production, Slow is his most affecting work to date.
PowerPop Station: Slow Recovery album review by Paolo Milea (May 2020)
If there is an adjective that defines Peter Baldrachi’s new album well… it’s beautiful. “Slow Recovery” (Prodigal Son – 2020) must have been worked as a goldsmith models his jewelry: with great care in the small details, between the lines and indentations. So, that the end result is brilliant and… beautiful. I imagine the ideas, arrangements, the choice of melodies maturing in that almost a decade between “Slow Recovery” and the last full length album that brought new songs from Baldrachi, “Tomorrow Never Knows”. On the new CD, Baldrachi is surrounded by an incredible team of musicians, starting with his composing partner Gary Rand. A real pop orchestra, with saxophone, trumpets, piano, Hammond B3, Farfisa, Mellotron, Wurlitzer, pedal steel guitar… that is, a record designed and executed to sound… beautiful. With country-rock inks on some songs, Baldrachi continues to deliver memorable and hooked tunes, that’s his business. “Slow Recovery” is the perfect album for this weird and scary moment that we live in. And despite being a mere coincidence, several song titles lead us to associate with what we are going through: “Slow Recovery”, “People Don’t Change”, “Side By Side”, “Killing Time”, “Bitter Pill”… but it really doesn’t matter. We finally have a new Peter Baldrachi album and that it came when we needed it most… because this beauty will do us very well now.
Power Popaholic by Aaron Kupferberg (June 2020)
Boston musician Peter Baldrachi explores the country genre with his latest LP, as only a few tracks could be considered power pop. The opening title track certainly fills that requirement; a rich production filled with snarling guitars and blaring horns. Next, “People Don’t Change” is an effective ballad with steel pedal guitar twang, and “Seasons” adds piano and some harmonies to the mix. “In My Heart” is more poetic, and as a lovelorn troubadour Baldrachi succeeds here. “Side By Side” returns to the rock side briefly, but the remainder of the album is mid-tempo country songs. “Killing Time” is another winner here, the compelling chorus tells of “missing you and wishing you were here.” Something about it feels like early Mike Nesmith in parts and it is definitely music that deserves to be heard.
ALBUM NOTES:
Slow Recovery was recorded by Craig Welsch at Rear Window, mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak, and mastered by Joe Lambert Mastering. The album features guitarist, bassist and songwriting partner Gary Rand, vocalist Ingrid Gerdes, guitarist Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Peter Wolf), drummer Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention, Paul McCartney), bassist Brad Hallen (Susan Tedeschi, Aimee Mann, Roomful of Blues), guitarist Milt Reder (Four Piece Suit, Barrence Whitfield & The Savages), pedal steel player Dana Flood, bassist Dean Cassell, keyboardists Paul Wolstencroft and Peter Linnane, percussionist Jay Stanley, and John and Scott Aruda on horns.
CREDITS:
PETER BALDRACHI – Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion
GARY RAND – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar, Electric Bass
INGRID GERDES – Backing Vocals on all tracks
MILT REDER – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar
DUKE LEVINE – Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar, Resonator, Mandolin
DANA FLOOD – Pedal Steel Guitar
PETER LINNANE – Piano, Hammond B3, Farfisa, Mellotron, Pump Organ
DAVE MATTACKS – Drums on In My Heart & Killing Time
BRAD HALLEN – Double Bass on Seasons & Bitter Pill; Electric Bass on Side By Side
DEAN CASSELL – Electric Bass on The Sweeping Hand of Love
JOHN ARUDA – Saxophone on Slow Recovery
SCOTT ARUDA – Trumpet on Slow Recovery
CORBIN SMITH – Trumpet on Never Go Away
JAY STANLEY – Congas, Percussion
BENNY GROTTO – Percussion on Slow Recovery
PAUL WOLSTENCROFT – Wurlitzer electric piano on Side By Side
Recorded by Craig Welsch at Rear Window, Brookline, MA
Additional recording by K.R. Mogenson and Corbin Smith at Kissy Pig (RIP), Allston, MA and by Andrew Clifford at Main Street Music, Brewer, ME
Mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak, Allston, MA
Mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe Lambert Mastering, Jersey City, NJ
Edited by Corbin Smith
Layout and Design by Steven Jurgensmeyer
All Lyrics/Music: Peter Baldrachi/Gary Rand except
Track 4 Lyrics: Baldrachi; Music: Baldrachi/Rand
Track 5 Lyrics: Baldrachi/Rand; Music: Baldrachi
Track 6 Lyrics/Music: Baldrachi
All tracks published by Crash Boom Bam Music (ASCAP) and Gleason Rand Music (ASCAP) except Track 6 by Crash Boom Bam Music (ASCAP)
ALBUM TRACKS:
1. Slow Recovery
2. People Don’t Change
3. Seasons
4. In My Heart
5. Side By Side
6. The Sweeping Hand Of Love
7. Killing Time
8. Bitter Pill
9. Never Go Away