With her hazy, passionate, expressive alto, and slightly detached, observational lyrics, what's most accessible in Patty Larkin's music is her crisp, earthen guitar work. On the live À Gogo, she strips away the minima... more »l instrumentation found on her studio recordings and proves she's a songwriter-guitarist who can sing. It's easy to be astonished by the instrumental "Banish Misfortune/Open Hand," a spidery exhibition of Celtic/bluegrass fingerpicking played here with a loving precision that feels like second nature. But even on vocal-heavy tracks such as the wistful, windy "Tango" and bitingly literate "Don't," Larkin's rasp flows when the instrument ebbs, like old friends in balanced conversation. She tenderly sings "I Told Him That My Dog Wouldn't Run" (which Holly Cole covers), and her inspired rumble of a voice outshines her fingers on "Me and That Train." But, for the most part, À Gogo is an album about a guitar and its girl. --Sally Weinbach« less
With her hazy, passionate, expressive alto, and slightly detached, observational lyrics, what's most accessible in Patty Larkin's music is her crisp, earthen guitar work. On the live À Gogo, she strips away the minimal instrumentation found on her studio recordings and proves she's a songwriter-guitarist who can sing. It's easy to be astonished by the instrumental "Banish Misfortune/Open Hand," a spidery exhibition of Celtic/bluegrass fingerpicking played here with a loving precision that feels like second nature. But even on vocal-heavy tracks such as the wistful, windy "Tango" and bitingly literate "Don't," Larkin's rasp flows when the instrument ebbs, like old friends in balanced conversation. She tenderly sings "I Told Him That My Dog Wouldn't Run" (which Holly Cole covers), and her inspired rumble of a voice outshines her fingers on "Me and That Train." But, for the most part, À Gogo is an album about a guitar and its girl. --Sally Weinbach
David N. (ilikeallmusic) from GADSDEN, AL Reviewed on 1/13/2007...
Comes with all artwork and booklet
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CD Reviews
Patty Larkin on the road and at her best
Dave | Jamesville, NY USA | 10/17/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It seems that some musicians are at home in the studio with all the click-tracks, reverb and other myriad digitalizing to animate their muse. Others are destined to produce their most poignant and intimate work in college halls and local clubs. Patty Larkin clearly belongs to the latter group. Her newest outing finds her pared down to her acoustic guitar and her voice. Nothing more is needed. While her studio albums have been listenable, the range and subtlety of her voice and her extraodinary acoustic guitar work can only be fully appreciated in the "unplugged" venue. Like her fellow musicians, Bruce Cockburn and Jonatha Brooke, she revels on the road. Having seen all three of them in small, intimate settings, their ability to fill a room with their mere presence, let alone extaordinary performances and raport with the audience, cannot be fully appreciated with all the overlays and tweaking of the best studio production. If any of these three come to your town - or within two hours of your town - go see and hear for yourself. In the meantime, go out and get this CD (and while your at it, treat yourself to Jonatha Brooke, Live). You won't be disappointed."
WHO IS THIS LADY?
Avalon Don | Huntington Beach, California United States | 04/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you can handle some of Patty Larkin's songwriting and dry humor, you'll be getting on "A-GoGo" a solo live guitar performance that's as good anybody has ever put down on record. Larkin combines smooth Joni Mitchell control "Banish Misfortune/Open Hand" with Amy Ray speed "Don"t" for a unique style all her own. The songs and the sound quality are "A" perfect and one listen to "Wolf At The Door" will get your batteries charged."
Entered a skeptic; left a believer
Jeff Tripodi | Walnut Creek CA | 04/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had never heard of Patty Larkin, or her cadre of loyalists, when I heard 'Do Not Disturb' on the radio. I picked up the CD and loved it, top to bottom (though I admit I skipped over 'Mary Magdalene' when I listened a second consecutive time).I've never seen her in concert, but I'm sold on her vocals, her lyrics, and her six-string virtuosity."
Captured Essence - Let the collective unconcious awaken.
Xagan | Hallandale, Fl. United States | 04/29/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I just saw Patty Larkin live at the Broward Center (Florida) a couple of weeks ago. I purchased the CD at the show. The acoustics of the hall that night were superior (as Larkin noted) luckily so were my seats (3rd row center). This cd truly captures the essence of that live performance (including the perspective from such excellent seats).
Larkin, a truly gifted vocal,instrumental and compositional artist, stands alone in full display on this outing. Both she and the songs are better served by her solitude. Though her abilities in the studio are interesting, her direct live performance is much more powerfull to witness. With this disc, we get a grouping of some of her best songs, given their strongest performances available to date.
Don't Do It, doesn't really work for me (perhaps, I remain too attatched to the Band version). Though still good, I preferred the unprocessed vocal version of "The Book I'm Not Reading", given at the concert, I attended.
My only real complaint, is that the concert lasted well over two hours and the CD doesn't. Too bad, if it did, it might have included some of her entertaining banter. Better yet, would have been inclusion of her "channeling" of Marlena Dietrich, Carmen Miranda, and Ethel Merman. Not to be missed.Let the collective unconcious awaken."
A great synoptic album.
Phoebe Wray | Ayer, MA USA | 10/22/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Life stuff from Patty on the road with a guitar that's like a videocam trained on the street, on the shadows, on the mirror. Subtle, raucus, hurting, laughing. If you're not a Larkin fan, this album will probably make you one."