Ruby Friedman Orchestra: "Chimes After Midnight" (2025) CD Review

One of Orson Welles' Shakespeare adaptations, Chimes At Midnight, takes its title from a line that Falstaff speaks in the third act of The Second Part Of King Henry The Fourth: "We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow." In that line, Falstaff is reflecting rather fondly on earlier exploits, and suggesting a bond exists between himself and Shallow. It is a line also about aging and memory, and there is something sad in it, a touch of melancholy, and the sense that death lurks in the near future. The line comes in a scene in which recruits are being selected by Falstaff for the army. It is from that line, and the title of Orson Welles' film, that Ruby Friedman gets the title for her new album Chimes After Midnight, which features all original material, written or co-written by Ruby Friedman. Interesting, forgotten characters from the past populate many of these songs. Here too there is the sense of death lurking nearby, but it feels that life wins in these songs. The musicians supporting Ruby Friedman on this album include Ben Landsverk on banjo, violin, viola, upright bass, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard, piano, organ, synthesizer. and percussion; Adriana Wagner on trombone and trumpet; Mark Pender on trumpet; Adam Zimmon on guitar; Lewi Longmire on acoustic guitar; Cactus Moser on drums and bass; Steve Williams on drums; Alex Elena on bass and percussion; Craig Macintyre on drums; Scott Healy on accordion; Arlan Schierbaum on organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel and celeste; Nicholas Allen Johns on guitar, bass, piano and synthesizer; Kaitlin Wolfberg on strings; and Meena Ysanne on strings.

The album opens with "Honeystomach (The Flight Of Connie Converse)," a strangely beautiful and captivating song. After its opening section, it develops a dark sort of folk sound, fitting for the subject of the song, a woman who was active in the folk scene in New York in the 1950s and who then disappeared in the 1970s. She deliberately disappeared and was never heard from again. This track features some gorgeous vocal work. "I want you to carry me where my dreams don't need a gun/I want you to tell me what's the point if I have no fun." There is also some intriguing work by Ben Landsverk on fiddle. And we hear chimes at the end. Then "Music Row" has a different sound and vibe, with a strong beat. This song tells an interesting story taken from a part of the history of this country not often mentioned. It's about the temporary legalization of prostitution in Nashville during the Civil War. "Sweet tarts puttin' on a show/'Til they sent 'em upriver on The Idahoe/Spirits dropped to an all-time low/So they brought 'em back home to Music Row." There is a good energy to this track, and even some whistling at the very end, which seems perfectly appropriate.

"From The Storm" also has a strong pulse. There is a great, dark, raw energy to this song, moving slowly, deliberately. "I am your wings/You are my shield/We aren't alone on this battlefield/When I lose hope/You're full of faith." There is a power here, especially in the vocal work, and I am digging that work on strings. Then "Flower Whore" quickly grabs us, in part because of the way those first lines are delivered, the lyrics coming at us quickly. And the work on strings has an intensity, a sort of ominous sound. Check out these lyrics: "Why do you keep bringing up my pain and all that's buried/I told you it's just me, nothing's wrong with my family, move along/Everybody gets beat and hit on when they're just little kids/My friends had it worse than me/Just give me dope money." I also love the way the horns are used on this track. Same goes for the piano. This isn't like anything you've heard before. And then the song's final section comes as a surprise, having a cool vibe.

"When The Hangman..." is another intriguing song with an historical context and featuring some incredible vocal work. This music is just completely captivating. I love these dark corners of the folk realm. "He'll steal your car and help you look for it too/When the hangman is your lover." Adam Zimmon delivers some good stuff on guitar. This is one of my favorite tracks. It is followed by another of my favorites, "Milky Way (Ode To Frank Black)," which has a lighter, more cheerful vibe, and yet another powerful vocal performance. There are moments where I feel the vocals alone can take us on a great ride through the skies. This track features some whistling in the middle, and then the rest of the instruments come bursting back in, a glorious moment. "You know me/I'm in the sky now." Then "Four Day Muse" has a beautifully sad and dreamlike tone. Adding to that dreamy vibe is some wonderful work on strings. That's Kaitlin Wolfberg on strings on this track. "Now I'm wondering/If your eyes 
are still pretty when you're not high/And I'm gonna miss your face."

"The Book Woman's Daughter" has a great raw sound from its first moments, and is immediately captivating. Then a great thumping beat begins, and the power of this song is undeniable. And when Ruby sings "I was born in these mountains," we feel that we've been dropped in the middle of that landscape. There are some interesting, unexpected changes, and we are swept along with them. "But I have seen this world/Through eyes that came before me," Ruby sings at one point, and those lines ring particularly true, not just for this song, but the whole album. Spirits are summoned here, brought back to life through this music. "The Book Woman's Daughter" is followed by "Friday Night Depression," and a siren is heard in the distance in its opening moment. "Friday night depression coming on/Hungry shadow hanging long/I want to be alone and I'm lonely all the time." The siren gets louder, closer. There is action in the city, passing by. On this track Meena Ysanne delivers some excellent work on strings. "Face it, man, we all, we all break sometimes." Indeed. The album concludes with "The Mayor Of North Hollywood Park," another song that tells a story, this one about Greg Sill, the music supervisor who had put Ruby Friedman's version of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" in the television series Justified. He died in 2018. There is a wonderfully sad tone at the beginning, and the song grows from there. At a certain moment it takes on a New Orleans vibe. I love the horns on this track. It slowly fades out, moving into the distance, into the past.

CD Track List

1. Honeystomach (The Flight Of Connie Converse)
2. Music Row
3. From The Storm
4. Flower Whore
5. When The Hangman...
6. Milky Way (Ode To Frank Black)
7. Four Day Muse
8. The Book Woman's Daughter
9. Friday Night Depression
10. The Mayor Of North Hollywood Park

Chimes After Midnight was released on June 13, 2025 on Label 51, and is available on vinyl as well as CD.