Eiren Caffall’s music comes from her childhood in the wooded hills of Western Massachusetts, where her bohemian parents took her to art galleries, hash parties and Shaker Barns filled with drying herbs. Her father conducted the Church of Jazz in their living room every Sunday morning, and she spent a lot of time reading about maritime disasters.  And, when they lost everything, several times, it made quite an impression.

These influences have resulted in her unusual lyricism, strong songcraft and the faint shock of surprise as the shy quiet of her lap steel guitar meets her longing voice.  Underneath her narratives of loss, there is always the pull of joy.  Her songs are tiny anthems for that moment when you think you might drown, and, failing to swim, you unexpectedly begin to fly.

Currently, she is lucky enough to share the stage – and the work of arranging her songs – with three incredible musicians.  Ariel Bolles (Rachel Ries, Bakelite 78) plays stand-up bass and sings the world’s most gorgeous harmonies.  Joshua Dumas (Notes & Scratches, Jitney and several wonderful operas) plays essential lead electric guitar and sings. Lawrence Peters (The Lawrence Peters Outfit, The Golden Horse Ranch Band, The Velcro Lewis Group, Hardscrabble, Plastic Crimewave Sound) on drums, provides an indispensable and sensitive anchor, not to mention vocals.

Together they make quiet rocking sad songs, delicate things that are angry, plaintive harmonies that restore a sense of liftoff to a sunken heart.

Download Civil Twilight (2009) on bandcamp.

New record in the works.

Singing Help Me Make it Through the Night (2011) with Joshua Dumas for his Broken Leg Duets.

Or, read the essays that go with the record on my blog, Civil Twilight.