Just seeing the title ‘The Magnolia Sessions’ turn up in my inbox is guaranteed to put a smile on my face, as this is one of the most interesting musical series I have ever come across. All power to Dan Emery for these wonderful recordings and long may they continue. An artist from the dark country/folk/ bluegrass scene is asked to record, they set up underneath an old magnolia tree in the evening when the insects are around, and that is it. Music does not get any more real or honest than this. Listen to what Emery says about this particular session, “. When we recorded his session, it was more like a couple dudes hanging out than it was like a couple dudes recording a live album in an unforgiving environment. I picked him up at the airport, and we immediately went to Cracker Barrel and sorted the details for the recording. With all the logistical work already behind us before lunch, the day was free to skate, play basketball, and take naps. At dusk, Katie Belle Van Zandt and her boyfriend Chris brought one of her father’s signature Martin guitars and a box of booze to facilitate the session. I pressed record and Casper played nearly an entire hour and fifteen minutes without stopping except to tell stories between the songs. His consistency still amazes me.”

Allen has a vocal style reminiscent of Tom Waits and a songwriting style reminiscent of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark and puts his heart out there for everyone to see. Here is a musician who is telling us his life, singing his story, taking us back to a time of travelling hobos, going from town to town by hitching a ride on a boxcar. One can imagine Allen being in an old Western, there outside the saloon, selling his musical wares. We feel his pain, his troubled life, as he bares all almost crying with emotion. There is nothing plastic or false about this, no fancy dance moves or overdubs, but instead we have a musician true to his art. Someone needs to make these albums available as a vinyl boxed set, as they truly are quite remarkable and a wonderful introduction for me to artists I would otherwise never have heard.

Rating: 9/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/CasperAllenMusic
https://anticorpmusic.com/