Joe Levi - The Raining Day Parade

Joe Levi

The Raining Day Parade
self-released; 2019

4.0 out of 5

By Jay Freeman

Joe Levi is an L.A. based songsmith originally from the rural English countryside, who was raised in the pagan community of Cumberworth (an old Lincolnshire hamlet with a population of 50 people), and “fed on a diet of the weird and wonderful, mythology and magi.” Joe has lived in Los Angeles since 2015 bringing his obscure and imaginative songs to many of the city’s best loved music venues, as well as performing several tours in his native England. His sound is a blend of “witchy folk, baroque pop, soaring balladry and celestial psychedelia.”  Levi’s third release The Raining Day Parade was recorded entirely in his apartment in Highland Park, L.A. over a period of two years. It was mixed and mastered by Charles Sicouri at his home studio in Echo Park. The recording is a concept double album dealing with loss, life, love and ritual in a small rural community. Sonically it pays tribute to traditional English and Celtic folk music with strokes of psychedelia, chamber pop and baroque, and was recorded largely on acoustic instruments with limited use of any synthesized sound. The songs on the record were completely written and mostly performed entirely by Levi, though there are collaborations with fellow musicians (namely UK experimental artists Chelsea Hare and Guatemalan singer songwriter Ericka Sance).

The first track is the album’s namesake, and it waltzes in with a style that clearly has singer/songwriter written all over it. If you’re familiar with the likes of Cat Stevens, Harry Chapin, perhaps a little Ray Davies and a smidgen of Frank Zappa, you’re going to like Joe Levi. Next is “Frog Song” and it offers the listener Levi’s take on psychedelia folk, akin to the Syd Barrett years of Pink Floyd. “Jamboree Sand Witches” features a style that’s part old world Celtic folk, a bit of dark gothic sensibilities and something that reminded me of Jethro Tull. There’s nice, warm bass tones to this one as well. “Marionette” might conjure up visions of some minstrel traveling show that performs shows with what else – marionettes. A nice female vocal accompanies Levi here. The next tune “Throwing Stones (Through Stained Glass Windows)” was one of my favorites, because of the vocal harmonies, the piano, the lower key Levi plays/sings it in and its overall haunting appeal. This one kind of reminded me of Leonard Cohen’s more folky stuff too, like “So Long, Marianne.”

“Spanish City” really has an old-world style to it, like some medieval musician Levi offers the music world a unique style and sound. “House on the Hill” features a warm humming sound and an echoey effect on vocals – even some pump organ action or accordion if I’m not mistaken. Lyrically, this number has something to do with vampires and for me, it was effective – it gave me the creeps. Some filmmaker should redo the 1922 German masterpiece “Nosferatu” and put this song in the soundtrack. “Bike Ride Into the Sun” is perhaps Levi’s most cheery tune, delving into a lighter pop-psych sound and happy background singing. I was thinking about the song “Kites are Fun” by Free Design but with a darker edge. “Grow Old With You” starts with a light, bouncing rhythm between the guitar and piano and lasts till the song’s end. A beautifully melancholic tone is its charm and equally so are the messages in its words. “The Medieval Scene” is one of Levi’s more spaced out, free form tunes with random guitar feedback solo, prickling acoustic chords flittering in the background and what sounds like some dog barking.

“If You Call (And I Don’t Answer)” reminded me more of the singer/songwriter qualities of Cat Stevens or maybe even early Bowie, like from “The Man Who Sold the World” or “Hunky Dory.” If you’re not totally into Levi’s kind of music, this might be the best gateway song to listen to – quite likable in my view. “Apple” was another tune that reminded me of early Bowie, when he was transitioning from Dylan-folkish tunes to experimental avant garde. But also, I was hearing Jethro Tull and Zappa as well. What I liked best about this one was the sudden shift in tempo and style – fun song! “Rosehips and Vanilla” features Levi on the 12-string I believe, and a style that has an inspirational/Celtic pagan vibe to it. If Loreena McKennitt was looking for someone to open her shows, she should look up Joe Levi. So much of his approach and unique style of music reminds me of her.

Next is “A Seasonal Hymn (Four Old Friends)” – a light and airy tune, filled with a mellow acoustic rhythm, deep rumbling drums and choral like vocals that are hypnotizing. Last up is “Hello Mountain!” Levi’s shortest song. I would say it feels kind of like a sing-song nursery rhyme or some other quirky children’s song, all in all, another likable tune ending the album on a high note.

​In the end, I got a sense that not everyone can pull off what Joe Levi does on The Raining Day Parade or for that matter, the type of genre mixing he does as a musician. Every now and again, when I think I’ve heard just about everything there is in music, a certain something comes along and truly delights me – The Raining Day Parade was that something.

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