From the album’s first tasteful, honeyed strums it becomes immediately clear that Chucky Trading Co’s A Sky of Hopes is going to shape up to be a solid and balanced listen. Indeed, the second studio effort from the talented duo is one to dedicate an evening just to savor.
Chucky Trading Co, also known as CTC is a folk-rock duo composed of brother and sister CS Taber and Patricia Taber. CS is based in New York, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, while Patricia is a Nashville-based singer, artist, and designer. Together, the duo’s music is very soft. A sweet and smooth blend of folk, country, and rock, with a consistent upbeat nature that manifests in jubilant melodies and bustling instrumental arrangements. The gorgeously balanced production on the album handles the complex and rather intricate array of instruments and lines rather masterfully, resulting in a cohesive and deeply enjoyable listen.
While the album mostly does without any outstanding harmonic plot twists, opting instead to remain familiar and gentle with its changes and melodies, A Sky of Hopes is a striking album in its poignant simplicity and in the vast array of styles it proves can be contained within a microcosm as restrained as an 11-part folk rock listen that does not stray outside the boundaries of the genre. From its shiny introduction to the introduction of melancholy on ‘Charlys Alone’, to the funky and groove stunner ‘Clever Girl’, the album’s first 4 cuts showcase just what Chucky Trading Co. are capable of. Instrumentally and harmonically sweet and with a rich collection of horns, strings, and organs to support the usual cast of acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums, and voice.
The album’s handling of guitars is rather tasteful, building intros around grandiose and booming strums that soon go backstage, leaving room for modulated and elegant electric lines to shine alongside whatever nuanced instrumental arrangement the song is having. ‘Blood Diamond’ is a case in point with its acoustic introduction that very quickly changes into one of the album’s most structured arrangements. ‘Hero’ might be the album’s least straightforward offering. With a syncopation that sounds stark in comparison to the rest of the music, and with chord sequences that toy around with modes, ‘Hero’ is the album’s most involved composition, and with a fiery bunch of electric guitar licks, the album’s center piece does not disappoint.
The album’s later half does not feature any fillers either. With pieces such as the ethereal ballad ‘Happy’, with its gentle pacing and heartwarming lyrics, and the quirky little ‘Saturday Waltz’ and its gorgeously built vocal harmonies, the album’s final chapter are just as solid as its start but is decidedly softer and more introspective. ‘White Widow’ is rocking and bluesy, perhaps the album’s most 70s folk sounding release. With its snappy groove, pure folk vocals from Patricia, and electric guitar riffs, the album’s penultimate cut is one of its most outstanding. The mystical and breathtaking outro, the album’s titular piece, an airy and engulfing instrumental based on electric guitars with dense and soft walls of reverb, choppy effects, and a slow and deliberate drum groove is among the album’s best and most rewarding listens. A gorgeous way to end an album.
Chucky Trading Co’s A Sky of Hopes continues to deliver throughout its 11-song runtime. A balanced and masterful release that is a testimony to the superb musical chemistry between brother and sister Taber, and to their innate songwriting and arranging gifts.
