A linguistics conversation might be an odd way to start a music review, but I read an interview with Cordovas singer/bassist, Joe Firstman, the other week and he said something really interesting: ““We wanted to strike the term ‘want’ from our music—to get rid of all the ‘Baby, baby, baby, I want this, I want that,’ and create something more useful…..” (he finished the sentence with something else, of which more later).
But that, really is in an interesting concept: Taking “want” out of anything, leaves you with a celebration of what you “have”, surely? And that permeates the whole of “Destiny Hotel”.
It was recorded on their farm in the outskirts of Nashville – Firstman and his family live there too – and if that sounds idyllic, then there’s a genuine warmth, a calmness, a content, about “High Feeling”. It also sounds like it has absolutely nothing to do with the 21st century. Indeed, as Sevans Henderson’s gorgeous keyboard work hits, its tempting to imagine this as a kind of open house from Laurel Canyon in the 1960s, Joni Mitchell and David Crosby popping in and out for a jam.
“Rain On The Rail” continues the vibe (in truth they all do), and the deceptive guitar work of Lucca Soria and Toby Weaver is to the fore.
It is easy to think of Cordovas as a “jam band” and it is true to say this appears to be improvised but its less than half an hour long. It’s just that it careers about, journeying down highways and byways. There’s a country feel to “Fine Life” with the fiddle, and the suggestion that it sums up the whole thing, for example, but they follow it up with some beautiful harmonies on “Afraid No More.”
Back to the lyrics, for a second, the way they deliver them is interesting. “Man In My Head” deals with some mental issues, but does so with a reggae flavour. And “flavour” is the fairest word too, given that while these all have tastes here and there, then it all sounds like Cordovas being true to themselves.
There’s just something so relaxed about the likes of “Destiny”, just a feeling that the world cannot be a bad place if music like this is being made. Even the ballad (ish) ones “Warm Farewells” and the likes, can’t bring themselves to be upset, coming in, as it does on the warm southern breeze.
Occasionally some proper rock n roll, as it were breaks out. “The Game” has some proper blues licks, but the superb “I’ma Be Me” is perhaps the best thing here. The theory that whatever the world throws at them is ok is writ large through a song that is perhaps best described as the Allman Brothers with added R & B.
The last one is anthem too. “Do More Good”, offers this over a honky tonk ready tune: “I am gonna do more good and talk less shit, and that’s about all I can do.” Not a bad line to live by, really.
As I was listening to this, I thought back to the time, I saw Cordovas live. A lovely summer evening in July 2018 and I wrote this: “It might be the fact that we are still having a gorgeous, warm summer in the Midlands. However as Tennessee’s – by way of LA – Cordovas start playing, there is a palpable content feel. Their harmony stacked guitars on top of their sweet as honey, harmony stacked vocals sound perfect. As the evening breeze comes through the patio doors, and the garden part of the Kitchen Garden Café glistens in the sunset, it is impossible to have any other mood.”
And I stick by that, every word, because there is something just beautiful about “Destiny Hotel.”
Remember at the start, when Joe Firstman says he wanted to take “want” out of his music? You know how he finished that sentence? “We needed to make sure these were songs we’d be proud to sing forever.” No problem. There’s plenty of them here.
Rating 9/10
