We are all, to some extent, a product of our environment. When it comes to music that frequently manifests itself in a favored genre. But what if you’ve worked with artists from Leon Bridges to John Legend to the Rolling Stones? And you’ve scored and acted in a Sam Shepard play and written a movie soundtrack? In the case of Northern California musical duo Evanne Barcenas and Steve Wyreman, performing as Effie Zilch, that leaves you a lot of room to move. They’ve just released a new EP, Multitudes, and it showcases that broad range of styles.
Multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, Wyreman handles guitars and keys on the 7 cuts. His B3 organ riffs and guitar solos give a funky, soulful sound to Prayin’ Amos and Up And Down Blues. The former is a shout-out to a North Woods Wisconsin bar, but with Barcenas’ vocals echoing Aretha at her finest it becomes a treatise on a lazy summer day where you can practically hear the mosquitos buzzing in the background. The layering of her background harmonies under her sultry lead give a Motown feel to the latter. All those characteristics also contribute a slow R&B style to Only Fools.
The pair slow things down and go acoustic on One Hundred Years. It’s a reflective, almost spiritual, observation on the meaning of life and love. Carousel is a tribute to Wanda Jackson and embodies that early rock and roll/rockabilly vibe. Unsung Pages starts with a bit of Jeff Beck/Rod Stewart ear candy before Barcenas’ crystalline vocals soar into a glorification of the written arts. “Tell me a tale that will wind up in glory, give me an ending only scribes will write” could apply to any style but in this case it’s poet Maya Angelou that’s the inspiration. It comes complete with a spoken word vamp in the middle.
The duo starting making music together in their teens in San Francisco. Despite the unpredictable paths their musical careers have taken them, they retained some of their hometown classic rock influences. When you add all that together, Effie Zilch can take you on a fun-filled romp through a variety of styles. Their latest record, Multitudes, does exactly that.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.