Cactus Blossoms - On Every Time I Think About You
On Every Time I Think About You, the Cactus Blossoms elevate harmony duo singing to an art form, weaving rich, nostalgic melodies and poignant themes of movement and transformation into an emotionally resonant tapestry.
At its finest, harmony duo singing transcends simple arithmetic, transforming one plus one into something greater - a powerful, unified whole. When two voices blend seamlessly, they create an unexpected third entity, a profound vibration that melds two perspectives into a single, rich sound. On their latest release, Every Time I Think About You, brothers Page Burkum and Jack Torrey, known as the Cactus Blossoms, reaffirm their place among the most skilled and intuitive modern artists of this classic craft.
Their new album radiates a spectrum of emotions. Its "Something's Got A Hold On Me" captures the joy of a Saturday night two-step, while "Keep Walkin'" exudes a Stones-like swagger. "There She Goes" meanwhile juxtaposes romantic regret with a danceable bop beat. "Statues" offers a poignant reflection on the weight of lasting honor, "Is It Any Wonder" intertwines a pledge of enduring love with imagery from nature, and the title track delves deep into themes of loss and letting go. Across its ten beautifully crafted songs, the album invites listeners to immerse themselves in old-school melodies and harmonies, each song an open door to personal interpretation and connection.
The Cactus Blossoms, an Americana band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is composed of brothers Jack Torrey (vocals, guitar, bass) and Page Burkum (vocals, guitar), joined on tour by Phillip Hicks (bass), Jake Hanson (guitar), and Jeremy Hanson (drums).
Drawing inspiration from traditional American folk and "hillbilly" music, the band's sound echoes early country and rock and roll, reminiscent of '60s Nashville and Los Angeles icons like Roy Orbison, the Byrds, and Duane Eddy. Glide Magazine aptly described their music as “timeless and devil-may-care in equal measure.”
Recorded at Minneapolis' legendary Creation Audio, where the Trashmen and the Replacements made their marks, Every Time I Think About You sees the Cactus Blossoms collaborating once again with engineer/mixer Alex Hall (JD McPherson, Nick Lowe) for their most dynamic full-band sessions yet. Behind the T. Rex strut of "Keep Walkin'" and the itinerant theme of "Is It Any Wonder," the songs convey a sense of movement - whether moving on from places, people, or feelings of loss and grief.
“Even if you don’t set out to write songs with a theme in mind, one tends to present itself,” says Torrey. “This record keeps returning to the idea of ‘moving on’ - from one place to another, from people and situations that bring you down, from loss and grief.”