Bare and Bones by Candace Coker
Thoughts on the 2023 Album by Candace Coker
Hi Pal,
Welcome to another review where I tell you how I feel about a specific album or EP release. We will check out Bare and Bones by Candace Coker in today's edition.
Described on her website as “a vulnerable collection of songs for soul care”, I’ve spent the past couple of months listening to Candace Coker’s album like a dear friend. The Trinidad-born Christian folk singer-songwriter occupies a unique sonic space, fusing her soft soulful voice with jazz-tinged acoustic composition and Afro-Caribbean percussion arrangements. Needless to say, listening to this album has been quite the experience and I’m happy to walk you through it.
On “Honest”, Candace encourages us to peel off layers in our lives as she sings ‘…there’s nothing to prove’. It’s a song about letting go and embracing authenticity without fear of shame or blame. In many ways, the song act is a backdrop for the musical and lyrical themes of the album, as it has delicate acoustic strums, soothing percussive rhythms and hypnotic ad-libs and runs from Candace herself. Although “Arrow” is full of piano and guitar instrumentations, the star of its show is the vocals. It’s a song of longing and Candace conveys these emotions expertly as she sings, “…oh my heart is an arrow/pointing right to you…”
“Desert” is the first song I heard from this album and still remains one of my favourites. With tasteful harmonies and a colourful composition with twists and turns; this song really reflects her Caribbean roots, especially in the percussion arrangements. As a Nigerian, I cannot help but connect to aspects of this song in deep ways. “Hemorrhage” slows things down as a soulful piano ballad, while retaining some of her folk sensibilities. This song speaks about growth, love and learning to deal with pain.
“Strong Arms” is a personal favourite; perhaps because it has traditional folk elements that I find to be quite nostalgic. It’s complete with engaging chants and a song structure that I often like to tag as campfire specials. Of all the songs on the album, “Yellow Balloons” is essentially a piano neo-soul tune with vocal jazz infusions. Candace knocks it out of the park with what I believe, is the best vocal performance on the album with ethereal vocal infections and subtle, yet mesmerizing runs.
“Bare and Bones” feels like a thematic B-Side to the first track as she sings, ‘…I'm all torn up clothes/I'm all father's robes/I'm all undeserved mercy, come close/I'm all bare and bones…” It’s a fairly energetic tune in which Candace continues to explore the importance of living and finding strength in vulnerability. On “Day Go Down”, we have one of the most poetic expressions of loneliness I’ve heard in quite some time. There’s a desire within this song that I believe most people who have missed someone or something will be able to connect with.
Objectively, I think “Petrichor” is the best song on this album, particularly from a lyrical standpoint. Although there are certain songs on the album that I tend to gravitate to, I am reminded of Candace’s prowess as a songwriter every time I listen to this particular song. It’s crafted intricately to near perfection and I won’t change a thing about it.
“Granville Island” brings this journey to an end as a tune with a nostalgic feel as we listen to the words, “…our love was like summer, summer days”. I am particularly impressed by the strings on this song and how they elevate the song in a subdued yet significant way.
As I said at the beginning, it took me months to write this review partly because despite multiple listens, I felt like I had not digested it enough. This is a testament to the layers — thematically, instrumentally and lyrically — that Candace Coker has succeeded in blending together in such a seemingly simple musical project. Unlike other albums I fancy, Bare and Bones does not rely on complex nor experimental musical applications. Instead, the album's strength lies in its accessibility and with every listen, it reveals more layers for the listener to explore.
All of this is my long-winded way of saying that I enjoyed this one very much.
Genre(s): Folk, Afro-Caribbean, Neo-Soul
RATING: 4.6/5
Listen Here:
Apple Music • Deezer • Other Links
Connect with Candace Coker:
Facebook • Instagram
That’s it for today.
Catch you soon!
Talk to me about your favourite songs on the album. Also, let me know of any other albums or EPs you’d like me to review.
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Her voice is a beaut! Correct Folk album!