Husband and wife duo Adrienne and Dustin Cottrell, also known as Tortoise And Hair, hail from Marietta, Georgia and have been charming audiences in the Southeast United States for a decade now. The Cottrells studied together at Florida State University. Each are classically trained musicians with a shared love of some of the great singer/songwriters of Rock N Roll era (Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, etc.) Tortoise And Hair uses a distinctive sense of melody, witty and insightful lyrics, and their own special chemistry to open ears, minds and hearts on their self-produced debut album Front Row Seat.

Front Row Seat does display a certain distinct chemistry, but its duplicity is fetching. For all the chemistry on the album, it really is more like listen to two distinct artists’ solo albums on shuffle. Adrienne Cottrell leans more toward a folk or easy listening sound, relying on the deft imagery in the lyrics and her angelic voice to entrance a crowd. Dustin Cottrell is a closet rock n roller. He plays along well on the more folk-oriented material, but you can hear the enthusiasm in his guitar on the more rock and blues sounding songs. When the Cottrells sing together, however, there is no doubt they are together, as their voices intertwine and blend as if caramelized together by the music.

Front Row Seat opens with “Traveling Song”, a paean to finding home in the midst of love no matter where you might be. The arrangement is a sweet maritime Celtic ballad and Adrienne Cottrell pays epic tribute with her voice. Dustin Cottrell takes over on “Faultline ‘09”, an edgy bit of urban folk with a touch of blues. The song is as catchy as anything you might hear. “Watching The World Fall Apart” is a mellow shell for a blend of voyeurism and schadenfreude that may be an indictment of financial collapse of 2008 and those who brought it about. “Watching The World Fall Apart” is sublimely tuneful and holds a wealth of finely meted our bitterness in its grasp.

“Confessor” explores misplaced faith and the inherent need of even those who claim no faith to be absolved of their guilt. The song is a passive-yet-powerful story about one lost soul who keeps running to another in times of doubt, only to return when his well of certainty runs out. Adrienne Cottrell is out front on this one, a convincing and vaguely chilling story song that will stick with you. “Big Picture” is self-explanatory, a song that attempts to put life’s little problems into perspective. Dustin Cottrell takes the lead with extensive harmonies from Adrienne. “Voice Of The Wind” is perhaps the most unusual track on the disc, built from a martial beat, an ethereal arrangement and a whirling collection of guitar riffs. “No One Else In The World” recalls a simpler time and focuses on self-fulfillment. It’s not a flashy tune but flat-out great songwriting.

“Forever Yours” is a powerful love song with perspective. Adrienne Cottrell ruminates on the changes that life brings yet returns to the one constant in her life: love. “Forever Yours” is likely to wind up on mix-tapes, dedication lines and any other method people can use to dedicate songs to one another. “Lady Midnight” is far and away the best songwriting on the disc; a wonderfully poetic representation of the doubts that strike us all in the hours between dusk and dawn. Adrienne Cottrell uses powerful imagery, vulnerability and an amazing voice to paint a picture that is many times greater than the sum of its parts. The song and performance are utterly brilliant. On “Limbo”, Tortoise And Hair explore the existential angst and self-doubt that accompany one of the many transitions from youth to adulthood. Dustin Cottrell is out front this time in a tune that sounds a bit like mid-1970’s Billy Joel. “For Once In My Life” has an easy piano/jazz feel. It’s a song about escaping all of your bonds for a little while; just being able to be, and is probably a daydream most concoct from time to time. Tortoise And Hair close with “Just Another Road”, a plain and plaintive closer that hides s quiet sense of hope that will grab you.

As a listener I was quickly drawn into the inner life of Tortoise And Hair. Like many of the troubadours before them, this duo breaks down barriers with honesty, intelligence and wit, all wrapped in tremendous melodies and supple arrangements. Front Row Seat does feel like two distinct artists at times, but even where this dichotomy exists, the sense of chemistry between the two never fades. Adrienne Cottrell writes and interprets brilliantly, and Dustin Cottrell brings an edgy sense to the duo that seems initially out of place but quickly melds itself seamlessly into the sound. Tortoise And Hair are a duo not to be missed.

Review by Wildy Haskell

From the new Album!

From the new Album!

Look for it at CDbaby, dig station, itunes, and amazon.

There are 14 tracks on the album. Here are some brief notes about the songs:
For the opening track, Traveling Song, Adrienne (the Hair) dug deep into her Celtic roots and produced a lyric about our travels from Florida to California to Georgia looking for a place to settle and call ‘home.’ Ultimately, though, it’s not where you are, but who you’re with that makes the difference. This song is laced through with a finger-style guitar part echoing the vocal theme. The beautiful accordion playing of Simo Tesla emerges to the lead for an interlude. Marlon Patton does great work on the drums, bringing out the ethnic feel of the piece.
“Fault Line ‘09” is the heir of a previous ‘Fault line’ released on our first album. Many of the lyrics are the same, but it’s set to a different tune and different changes. The southern rock-ish guitar riff against a big two-beat feel on the drums creates a powerfully austere atmosphere, allowing the listener to be properly disturbed by the lyric. Between haunting verses and choruses, Steve Cunningham delivers a devilish slide solo. The song makes its way home with a total breakdown, exposing a finger-style guitar solo, with other instruments gradually creeping back in, building into total pandemonium before the final hits.

“Watching the World Fall Apart” conjures 30’s era rural blues, with its earthy opening guitar theme and deliciously relaxed groove. The lyrics are therapy for anyone staying up at night worrying about the stock market. The listener is invited to be revived and inspired by the events of today’s world, particularly the financial disasters we hear so much about; the point being that the future is still up for grabs. Anything can happen. Some poignant jazz piano adds a twist to the second half of the tune.

The fourth track, ‘Confessor’ tells the story of a relationship, in which a man pursues a woman first in a condescending way in regards to her faith, but over time comes to need her and seek her help. All along he seeks to dump the burdens of his conscience and escape himself; he looks for a confessor. The melody glides on a driving ¾ pulse, the texture building and relaxing throughout. Carol Statella sings on the viola, duet-ing with the accordion for an instrumental interlude.

The album now takes a turn inward with the intimate ‘Big Picture,’ a portrait of one’s feelings of futility and vanity when all cosmic forces seem to work against his efforts for personal progress. The band lays out on this tune, leaving only guitars, percussion, and, of course, sweetly harmonized voices telling you that you will, in fact, be fine when all is said and done.

Having put you at peace, the mood turns again with ‘Voice of the Wind’ prophesying evils of the future and the past. The lyric alludes to race in this country offering the perception that tension and mutual distrust, far from becoming healed, might actually be getting worse. The dark acoustic guitar and the military snare paint a picture of foreboding and unease. The electric screams high above with twisted thoughts and feelings. In the end, the song calls us all to our knees in repentance.

‘No One Else in the World’ lightens the mood again with a view of love blossoming not about of brokenness and neediness but as an overflow of completeness. The opening verses describe self-fulfillment in having written one’s one song and painted one’s own scene. The following verses express the desire to share those expressions. Finger picking guitar and lush viola neatly dress this simple happy tune.

‘Superhero’ is a song about someone who has become an inspiration to us. This person pays close attention to detail and is quite particular about things others might ignore. We’ve come to interpret these traits as expressions of profound optimism. It is only the cynic who deems certain choices or tasks to minute or mundane to merit attention. Like many of these tunes the song originates from a guitar riff, this one played in a Leonard Cohen triplet style. Several percussion voices create a loose groove, which Marlon at one point likened to ‘an earthy cash register.’

‘All I Could Do’ brings the full band back eliciting a jazzy 5/4 groove. The lyric tells of the trial of knowing someone who can’t or won’t know you back. Voices trade verses and choruses, creating the sense of an inner and an outer persona. Piano takes the lead, as the piece modulates up a whole step.

‘Forever Yours’ starts with a look at the innocent beginnings of young love and goes on to show how two deeply committed individuals will not let time and the trials of life break them. Though they each grow and change over time, they evolve together, making the bond stronger with every passing year. The light and airy feel created by the rhythm section supports subtle and unique melodic phrasing in the verse, giving way to a fuller and more intense chorus. The piece concludes with a polyrhythmic vamp, suggesting the complexities of life combined with the passage of time.

‘Lady Midnight’ is a foe posing as a friend, staying over late into the night and keeping you awake, filling your head with gossip, worries, and fears that you’d be better off without having heard. This song tells the story of fighting off the demon of doubt, as the hours of the night slip away. The rhythmic meter varies every few measures, cradling the lyrics and propelling you forward. Piano, guitar, and accordion textures ebb and flow throughout.

The theme remains centered on fear and doubt with the latin-esque pulse of ‘Limbo’. The song describes the condition of being far removed in time from one’s defining moments and from one’s spiritual landmarks. Wandering in the dark without the encouragements and reinforcements so heavily heaped on in youthful days, tenuously held faith is all one has as a guide. Though withered and worn the voice of the song refuses to give in and vows to persevere through spiritual limbo. Baritone guitar, B3 organ, an assortment of percussion, and even a few vocal lines in Hebrew all make contributions.

Anyone who has ever wanted life just to slow down will indentify with the second to last track, ‘For Once in my Life’. This light swing number expresses the yearning to just escape, with a loved one of course, from the incessant deadlines and commitments of life. Guitar lays the foundation for this tune, steadily chomping out the quarter note pulse, while the piano playfully bounces in and out.

‘Just Another Road’ quietly closes the album in a simple, solo voice and guitar format. On the surface, this song appears as a break-up story. The secret behind it though, is that it was inspired by a career change, rather than a romantic ending, but the experience carried intense emotional torrents nonetheless. The guitar again employs a Leonard Cohen style triplet feel, supporting the relaxed paced vocal phrasing.

Contributors to this album include:

Dustin Cottrell (Tortoise): Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Keyboards
Adrienne Cottrell (Hair): Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Joe Reda: Bass Guitar
Steve Cunningham: Electric Guitar, Baritone Guitar, Lap Steel
Marlon Patton: Drums, Percussion
Simo Tesla: Accordion
Carol Statella: Viola
Bert Elliott: Sound Engineering
Ben Hofer: Graphic Design

So where should I consider home? Was it where first breath was drawn?
Though for you, my love, my heart will long, so where you are I’ll say I’m from.

Oh, my love, come take my hand, to this place we’ll bid farewell
We will find where we belong we cannot buy or sell

Now we’re travelling down this road alone, all belongings left behind
But I will not crave these things of ours, as long as you are by my side

You can feel it in your gut, now, when the earth begins to move
You can feel it in your gut, now, when the earth begins to move
But that feeling doesn’t leave even when the quake is through

Whoa…

When you live out on the faultline you will build your house of stone
When you live out on the faultline you will build your house of stone
And when the rest have fallen down, then you’ll know that you are home

Whoa…
Well, now, I’ve become the wanderings of my soul

Word on the street is get out while you can
Those clouds are bringing in the wind and the rain
Don’t be fooled ‘cause it’s not sparing anyone
It’s gonna blow from Wall Street down to Main

Sitting here watching the world fall apart
Why would I leave, I’ve got a front row seat?
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll take it easy
That devil ain’t getting a hold of me

It’s a marvelous thing to see the wise become fools
To see the rich become poor before your eyes
While I don’t delight in the pain of anyone
It’s good to know tomorrow’s still so undefined

That’s why I’m sitting here watching the world fall apart
Everybody knows it’s getting plain to see
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll let it wash me clean
Every drop of rain that falls of me

That’s why I’m sitting here watching the world fall apart
Why would I leave, I’ve got a front row seat?
And when the sky’s coming down I’ll take it easy
That devil ain’t getting a hold of me

We met on a Wednesday more holy than most
Wearing ash on my head in the shape of a cross
He said that angels and demons are the world’s greatest hoax
I asked, “Did you seek me out ‘cause you thought I looked lost?”

He found a habit for when he had nothing to boast
He’d come to my door with rings of red ‘round his eyes
I knew that I wasn’t what he needed most
But he left feeling lighter than when he’d arrived

You looked for a confessor to calm your mind of stormy seas
I don’t have all the answers, still you put these robes on me

Things settled down and his worries grew dim
It was a sign tides had turned for the good, I could tell
I began to see less and less of him
Until he stopped coming by and it seemed just as well

But then a time came when he was doubting his worth
And he saw everything in his life headed South
He was drawn back to me like a compass points North
And tales of his sins dropped like stones from his mouth

You looked for a confessor, while you say you don’t believe
Tried to make me your intercessor, so you put these robes on me

You looked for a confessor, while my faith a mustard seed
You saw mountains before you, so you put these robes on me

When you build and build again ‘til your whole day is spent
And you watch the sun go down, you wonder where it went
You’ll start to think about the big picture

You’ll see it looking back at you. No, it won’t tell you what to do
And it will let you cry your eyes out. It’ll see you live it through.

When you look to your left and you look to your right
And you see your neighbor cry and throw his hands up in his plight
You’ll start to see it, the big picture

You’ll see it staring back at you. No, it won’t tell you what to do
And it will let you curse the day. It will see you live it through.

When this world spins around over and again
And then finally settles down and rolls over on it’s head
That’s when you’ll need it, the big picture

And you’ll be fine…
When the walls that you built
Fall down tired
Build, build again
And watch the sun go down

And I am just the voice of the wind, no one’s listening
But don’t say I didn’t warn you

When the land of freedom knew she wasn’t free, in a cry of pain
She was born again
Though the Devil knew right then and there that he didn’t have the cards
Still he refused to fold his hand

And I am just the voice of the wind, no one’s listening
But don’t say I didn’t warn you
Breathin’ out but will you breathe it in, are you listening
Will you let these words adorn you

‘Cause when they poured into the streets behind the passion of their pain
And the anger echoed back and forth ‘til every heart was claimed
And pride was taken back but all I saw was shame

And I’m not gonna tell you anymore, these words have reached their shore
Yet I fear it’s all in vain
But he with ears to hear and eyes to see, he will know the truth
And it will bring him to his knees

And I am just the voice of the wind, no one’s listening
But don’t say I didn’t warn you