Seaming the familiar with the personal, Marco Catracchia’s third release, Diary of a Recluse (and Other Short Stories), attempts to emanate the introspective evolution of an artist.
Mixing genres of country, blues and a little folk, Catracchia’s sound exudes a soulful release with the intention of voyeuristic multitudes. Opening tracks “Before You Hit the Ground” and “She’s Alright” are comprised of sincere, fragile melodies enriched with a poetic core that set the obvious tone for the rest of the album. Resembling the sounds of James Taylor and John Denver, Catracchia’s simple, raw sound creates a pleasant, yet familiar listening experience.
Laying harmonies on top of electric guitar licks, Diary of a Recluse showcases the talent of Denny Hemingson (pedal steel guitar player from the likes of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill), as well as backing vocals of wife Roslyn Catracchia on “Half the Way.”
Consistently exemplifying genre-bending melodies, Catracchia’s sound could have been better mixed, with cliché arrangements occasionally drowning out significant instrumental strengths. Regardless, homogeny allows the record to be cohesive enough to balance personal poetry with production.
Reviewed by Nicole DeLawder
