Trapper Schoepp/Siren Songs/Grand Phony Music
Four out of Five Stars
Videos by American Songwriter
Trapper Schoepp has always navigated a narrow divide between the influence of folk and that of a generally poppier precept. It’s resulted in a series of amiable undertakings that still allow for an occasional wistful encounter and uplifted emotions soaring on the strength of gilded melodies, dedication, and desire.
Siren Songs is no exception. Its genial sentiments allow for a delicate delivery that all but ensures immediate accessibility. Here again, Schoepp shares a sound that’s both alluring and expressive, with songs such as “Cliffs of Dover,” “Good Graces,” “Anna Lee,” and “Queen of the Mist” purveying those deeply desirable sentiments through ambiance and intrigue. Certain tracks—“Secrets of the Breeze” and “Eliza” in particular—tap into a traditional sound, one that draws from British ballads, all easily adapted to fit his own passion and purpose.
The end result is a set of songs that are both soothing and seductive, all part of a musical mantra that seems to inspire Schoepp and his producers—John Jackson and Patrick Sansone—every step of the way. Recorded at the famed Cash Cabin studios, it seems to suggest that the ghost of its former owner, Johnny Cash, hangs heavy over these proceedings. Yet, though his spirit might loom large, there’s more than a hint of hope and happenstance infused in these tunes. This is all about effortless engagement, with subtle life lessons and added encouragement. Schoepp appears determined to avoid the drudgery of the everyday world, all while trying to substitute a higher purpose in its place.
Not surprisingly then, the title draws a parallel to that classic composition by Tim Buckley, “Song to a Siren,” a memorable ballad that also summoned a desire to reach a higher plateau in terms of inspiration and encouragement. Like the sirens in mythology that proved so irresistibly alluring to the passerby, these songs are nothing less than completely captivating in equal regard.
Photo by Joseph Cash / Missing Piece Group
