For her fifth album ‘Do You Recall?’ Dori Freeman has once more worked in collaboration with her husband Nicholas Falk as producer, offering us an intimate collection of new songs about love, life and the struggles of the modern world. The picture on the cover of the record echoes the soft-focus style of alternative Americana that she has perfected over the course of her career.
Wistful love song ‘Do You Recall?’ opens the record, honouring the rare and beautiful relationship she has, thinking back to when she fell in love. Every time I sing it ends up being about you, she sings, without complaint. Celebrating her love and all its complex imperfections is a joy to hear.
Alongside writing beautiful love songs, Dori has consistently shown a compassionate heart for those suffering in her home region of Appalachia. This political heart is clear on ‘Soup Beans Milk and Bread’, exposing the horror of poverty and the unfair society she lives in. On ‘They Do It’s True’ she goes further, calling out CEOs and others who make money off the poor. Even if the music is on the surface melodic and sweet, her quiet frustration at the world bubbles to the surface, giving these songs some bite.
With all the struggles around us you can’t blame her for also seeking some escapism every now and again. So on ‘Movie Screen’ she heads to the cinema to idolise her matinee idol and enjoy the fantasy of other people’s lives. There’s an admirable attention to the detail of real American lives in her lyrics, also seen later when she sings a story set in a ‘Laundromat’ about getting away from heartbreak and washing your cares away.
The star of the album is ‘Why Do I Do This to Myself’ – a perfect little 90s inspired catchy alt-country song, asking questions of herself and trying to learn lessons from life’s mistakes.
On ‘Rid My Mind’ she slows things down with an aching country sway of a song where she’s doing her best to push the negative thoughts (and people) out of her life.
She finishes the record with the lovely vintage fifties sounding ‘Gonna Be A Good Time’ celebrating her love, life and the joy of singing together.
‘Do You Recall?’ is another gorgeous record from Dori Freeman – just the kind of sweet soothing wonder we need to get through this winter.
Highway Queens 
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