On 26th August 2019, the world stopped for friends, family, and fans of Denville-born singer-songwriter Neal Casal. However, though he is gone, his legacy lives on through his music. So it is with No One Above You (The Early Years 1991-1998), a collection of previously unreleased early studio recordings, of original compositions and covers, a gift to those left behind.
Casal was both a solo artist and key collaborator, adding his name to the works of Willie Nelson, The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and Circles Around The Sun, amongst others. He left his mark on so many lives, shown by the number of people who contributed to this album: compiled and remixed by Casal archivists and producers Gary Waldman, Jim Scott, and Jon Graboff and featuring additional performances by John Ginty, Dan Fadel, Angie McKenna, Jeff Hill, Alex Koford, Graboff, and more.
The tracks reflect Casal’s deep love of music. Many of them are tinged with melancholy and convey a sense of searching for something that is missing – love, peace, and happiness. However, scattered throughout are also bright bursts of hope. Here’s a flavour of what awaits the fortunate listener.
‘Silver Dollar’ strides in purposefully, an advocate for holding onto love in the face of adversity, the guitar and piano lines beautifully complementing the harmonies. ‘Quiet Desperation’ is infused with wistful, warm vocals and speaks of a desire to escape the loneliness of the city to where the heart longs to be. ‘Someone Else’s Shoes’ contrasts a bold, confident bluesy guitar accompaniment with a tale of broken relationships and a search for true love. The dreamy and magical ‘The Search For Silver Lake’ drifts along peacefully, past Spanish castles and stairways to the spirits, perpetually searching for meaning and fulfillment.
In ‘Indian Summer’, its heavy and relaxed beat reminiscent of the haze and heat of its namesake, Casal finally finds the love and light he has been seeking and with it hope for a second chance. The gorgeous harmonies of ‘Running Wild’ give a birds-eye view of a wild herd of mustang, calling on mankind to curb its need to cage nature and to let the horses run free. ‘After All This Time’ is a rousing call to anyone who has suffered at the hands of love to embrace change and give it another chance.
‘Cora Jones’ is based on the true story of the kidnap and murder of 12-year-old Cora Jones from Wisconsin, where Casal spent a great deal of time in the early 90s with some of his closest friends. This track is a tribute to Cora, the instrumental backing gently pacing along as Casal paints a picture of a tight-knit family and simple country life torn apart by the senseless killing of a bright young girl.
In ‘To The Water’, the rich guitar and piano lines flow along steadily like a river, reflecting on a tale of loss and the fleeting nature of life. ‘Valley Of The Fallen’ is an interesting mix of calm melancholy, as the singer comes to terms with the loss of a loved one, brash musical chaos perhaps to reflect the emotional wreckage left behind in the wake of death, and a face off of electric guitar riffs and military drumming precision.
‘Greatest Friend’ is a wonderfully raw and heartfelt moment of introspection, hymn-like and spiritual, perhaps a reminder to appreciate what truly matters in our lives. ‘Second Handed Flowers’ once again showcases Casal’s eye for storytelling, be it through his own pen or his talent for choosing songs to cover such as this one, which combines a simple wistful guitar melody with a cutting tale of woe.
We end the album on ‘Mellow Down Easy’, rousing and light-footed, a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and a call to stop dwelling on things we cannot change. No One Above You (The Early Years 1991-1998) is a true treasure trove, a small window through which we can catch a glimpse of a bright soul taken too soon from this world.