Grace Hotel
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Album Reviews

Cool! That's the first word that comes to mind after listening to this outrageously cool recording by an original band. Much like FFH (whom I reviewed here a couple of weeks ago), Burlap to Cashmere stands out as a band with the innovation and creativity to create truly original music.

"Digee Dime" kicks off the CD in a fitting manor. Steve Delopoulos' interesting voice puts an unique flair atop offbeat, high-adrenaline music with influences ranging from flamenco to Caribbean to folk rock. I knew I was in for a treat from the start! Throw in a mariachi-style grito and guitar flair like nothing I've heard since I left the Mexican border, and I'm well on the way to a musical meltdown.

But just before the high-impact originality becomes too much to bear, the band segues into the mellow "Eileen's Song." A gentle beat and sweet harmonies allow the band to shine through the sheer intricacy of the music. Absolutely beautiful! From the lyrics, I can only assume that the song was written to one of the members' wives, and it ends with the picturesque image of the two growing together through thick and thin, "until one angel we have become."

Just when I thought I couldn't get any better, "Basic Instructions" forced me to crank my stereo up quite a few notches. If you've heard the song (the only one released to radio so far, as far as I know), you've tasted what this band can do. More intricate and furious-paced guitar work I can't say that I have ever heard, and the percussion and instrumental section in the middle just blew me away! If you can sit still through this song, you had better check your pulse. Combine music of this caliber with the message of John 3:16, and I can imagine this might be the music playing in Heaven! (What can I say? Angels with harps, although "heavenly," just don't do it for me all the time!)

The title track slows things down a bit, with gentle guitar picking, powerful harmony, and a very pointed question: "Is there anybody out there? Does anybody care? Is there anybody seeking? Does anybody see You, or are they deaf and dumb like me?" After asking the question, they pick up the tempo to a furious pace, quite the contrast to the introduction, but quite a dynamic effect to punctuate a dynamic question. They finish with one final, vital question: "Does anybody see that He died upon a tree?" This is the most vital question, and quite often the one forgotten. Do we truly see and realize what God Himself did for us?

One thing that stands out about this band is that although they have been promoted to the Christian music market, they don't fit into the stereotypical "Christian Artist" mold. In this case, I'd consider that a good thing - their songs are thought-provoking without being in-your-face. Their image, their style, and their lyrical discretion would appear to give them an opening into the lost world that many established Christian bands may not. I hope they take advantage of that opportunity. But regardless of what they do with the gift they have, one thing is certain: Burlap To Cashmere has a gift for original music that will satisfy the even strongest craving for originality!

 ~ John Longenecker

There was this time around the summer of '98 where I was hanging out over at Dan Ra's place. Dan comes home with this excited look on his face. He looks at me for a second then motions me over and begins to tell me about this new CD he just got. Burlap to Cashmere (B2C) had just released their freshman project, "Anybody Out There?" and he was one of the first to get it.

I remember falling in love with the music almost immediately. The opening track with the funny name, "Digee Dime" has a distinct folk-pop flavor to it (ala Paul Simon) and yet still manages to remain driven. It's quite similar to Jars of Clay who also use acoustic guitar to drive their music. But unlike the Jars who heavily rely on hip-hop drum loops to drive and groove, B2C use Latin flavored pop hooks over Afro-Cuban rhythms. And I guess I'm not the only one who liked it. In 1999, these guys won the song of the year Dove award for "Basic Instructions".

Burlap to Cashmere began when manager Jamison Ernest found two cousins, John Philippidis and Steven DeLopoulos, playing in a New Jersey coffee house. Starting out of Brooklyn, NY in the summer of '95, they began to build the band. Percussionist Scott Barksdale answered an ad in the paper and lifelong friends Mike Ernest (guitar), Theodore Pagano (drums), Roby Guarnera (bass), and Josh Zandman (key boards) were called in to join. The band has deep roots in folk and world music. Combined with arrangements full of nylon and steel strings flamenco guitar. (Check out the guitar solo on "Eileen's Song".)

Over all, I would have to give this CD 4.5 points out of 5. Even though I think this album truly rocks, it did not drastically alter my perspective on music. Nonetheless, I high recommend it as a must have. There are not too many Christian albums like this around. Take care.

~ Joe Kim

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