Caitlin Cary’s Small Ponds w/ Tres Chicas

The juxtaposition is brilliant in its simplicity. “Take it on,” sings Matt Douglas, backed by only the most distant of strums, “my bleeding heart.” Then he sings it again, because he’s pretty sure he means it, before stepping aside for Caitlin Cary. “Take it on,” she offers, the acoustic guitar staying put, “my beating heart.” Then she repeats the line, her voice suddenly soaring and putting even more distance between the words and the strum. So there it is in a dozen words: Love’s wounded dance, a waltz with a limp. But, as the two voices merge, things get even more damaged: “Glasses break, a million pieces/ Find a trace of red in your hair/ Love won’t punish you the rest of your days.” You hope that last bit means refuge has been found, but the song doesn’t offer anything definitive. But it does remind you that hushed tones usually mean something deep (maybe even desperate) is transpiring.  

OK, there’s a rather forced segue available courtesy of “deep” and the name that Cary and Douglas are using for their collaboration: The Small Ponds. The name is telling, though, as it speaks to the modest and unassuming natures of Cary (Whiskeytowner, one-third of the sublime harmony rockers Tres Chicas, and owner of three gorgeous solo releases) and Douglas (Fulbright Scholar, NYU jazz graduate, classical composer, and leader of The Proclivities). As if being a Pond wasn’t humble enough, they went with Small Ponds. The results of the pairing sound so perfect-fit glorious that they could have called themselves The Great Lakers or The Mighty Ocean. Just listen to them indulge in majestic art-folk on “Horse on a Bus” or let loose their inner Joni Mitchells on “Strange Days.” Or sing about the heart’s restless and ruthless rhythms in a way you’ll never forget. —Rick Cornell