Rochester, Minnesota-based Good Morning Bedlam says, “we want to surprise our audience.” Ostensibly a folk music trio, they accomplish that feat admirably on their latest album, Lulu. The record careens between indie folk and speed-grass, with side trips to Balkan jazz, klezmer, and Roaring 20’s pop music. One thing that does remain constant is the spirited vocal harmonies of the 3 contemporaries; Isaac Elker on guitar, wife Tori Elker on bass, and Sophia Mae Beyer on fiddle.
The CD opens with I Am Sad, a racing-car-tempo number about struggling to maintain a positive attitude with the trio practically shouting to keep feelings at bay, but noting that even “my best is sad.” Enough copies that same pace with back-and-forth lead vocals to affirm that just being human and trying your best is good enough. The Haunting uses ukulele to set a lighter feel, but vocals suggest otherwise as the anxieties inherent in a long-term relationship come to the surface. Blessed Boy exposes you to the range of Elker’s acoustic guitar picking skills.
Those musical detours I noted earlier show themselves on You Are Going To Miss Me with horns and a klezmer clarinet that put a light-hearted feel on a break-up song. Reminding that “I found you in bed with your mirror”, and suggesting I’d “watch your float go by in the loneliness parade” make it clear it’s over. Salt starts with straightforward folk, but then builds on the strings until achieving an orchestral pop sound. The title track is also a break-up song, albeit in a more philosophical way. You can take your pick of two versions, short and long, of the song and its heartfelt belief you kind of need break up with the life you’ve had in order to fully embrace the life you really want.
Good Morning Bedlam has been playing their form of high-energy folk, in one form or another, for nearly a decade. During that time they’ve picked up a penchant for a compendium of music styles that doesn’t fit easily into a description simply because it changes from song to song. I can say with no uncertainty, if you’ve been feeling like you’re in a little bit of a musical rut lately, take a listen to Lulu. It will knock you into another lane of your listening journey.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.