Tom Faia & Kate Miller are a duo from Monterey, California who released Stay Away From the Flame. They mention “This is a recording that captures so many of life’s ups and downs, wrapped up beautifully in ten memorable well produced songs. Fans of Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens and the soft side of The Eagles will enjoy this collection.”
The music to my ears is organic and captures the sound of talented musicians coming together. There’s a mix of Americana, folk and other like-minded genres on this album.
Up first is the title track “Stay Away From the Flame” which has a timeless quality to it. It sounds like it could have been released in the ’60s or last week. There’s a slight Johnny Cash kind of quality to the music especially the lyrics but just not as dark. The instrumentation sounds fantastic and well produced. I thought the vocals were really well done. Faia is the lead here but Miller does a great job providing vocal harmonies. It’s a great opener and I loved the harmonica solo.
“It’s Only Love You Steal” switches things up with Miller being the lead. The music has a solid groove between the acoustic guitar, bass and percussion. Everything has so much space in the mix it was a delight to listen to. The chorus is catchy and I found the song to be quite lively.
We are greeted with a more somber tone on “The Sun is A Risin’.” Miller sounds quite good with this type of energy. The guitar picking combines with a shaker but it’s the vocals that had most of my attention.
The mood does a 180 with “Love Will Be Alright” which felt like a single worthy song. The vibe here is very bright and warm. It’s a joyful sounding song that is filled with some nostalgia and gratitude. Miller and Faia trade vocals and this song displays how good they sing together.
I was expecting “Jealousy” to be a little more somber but it’s an uplifting energy. The old time country vibe sounds great here and there’s a playful feeling to it as well. This felt like one of the highlights to me.
The album continues with a number of great songs. “Keep on Movin’” and “Sweet Natural Love” display some exceptional songwriting and delivery. “If I Had a Chance With You” has a bittersweet ’70s feel while “Here I Go” is a fantastic song I could imagine people dancing to. “I Believe in You” is a pensive closer that felt like a good way to end.
This is a fantastic album from seasoned musicians who are skilled songwriters. It’s cohesive and displays different emotional spaces for the listener to enjoy. Take a listen.
Heather Savage
