By Paul T. Mueller– Here’s an interesting collection of intelligent adult pop from Chicago-based Dolly Varden, which is not a person but a five-piece band, anchored by husband and wife singer-songwriters Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen. The two started Dolly Varden (a variety of trout, and also the name of a Dickens character) in 1994, so it’s not surprising that its seventh album is more or less focused on the passage of time.
Some of the songs are fairly accessible – “Del Mar, 1976” is a reminiscence of youth and “the girl whose name I cannot remember”; “Saskatchewan to Chicago” traces the singer’s roots from three generations back to the present.
Others are more oblique – in the title track, Christiansen sings “There are rubies in the dirt/There are lines across your shirt/We have found a way to laugh, but it’s happening too fast/But with any luck it’ll last for a while.” So while the lyrics (mostly Dawson’s) can be a challenge, the singing – Dawson and Christiansen share lead vocals, accompanied by harmonies from guitarist Mark Balletto, bassist Mike Bradburn and drummer Matt Thobe – is imaginative and nicely done.
Instrumentally, the band covers the spectrum from quiet, folky strumming to full-out rocking. Throw in flourishes such as mellotron, melodica, lap steel and violin, and the result is a rich and rewarding soundscape. Ponder the lyrics or just let it all wash over you– either way, For a While is a pleasure.
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