Lowen & Navarro - Pendulum (1995)

In the years since Pat Benatar scored a Top 5 hit with their song “We Belong,” Los Angeles duo Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro have recorded three albums and established themselves as permanent residents on AAA play lists. While “Pendulum” has more of a pop edge than their previous recordings, it still features the trademark folk harmonies that have drawn comparisons to such famous duos as Paul & Art, Phil & Don and even on occasion, Amy & Emily. Working for the third time with producer Jim Scott (Robbie Robertson, Bodeans, Neal Casal) proved to be a wise move. His studio lineup includes familiar names James “Hutch” Hutchinson, Don Heffington, Tammy Rogers and Greg Leisz and creates a solid foundation on this collection of folk/pop tunes. Scott also demonstrates a knack for getting the “whole” to become greater than the sum of it’s parts. Individually, both Lowen and Navarro possess admirable singing skills, but it’s the seamless intertwining of their two voices with longtime band member Richard Dodd’s cello that create a “third voice” which has always defined their sound. You won’t find any feedback, angst or rebellion here. Just stories about real life experiences which any listener can relate to. Particularly powerful is the final cut, “Crossing Over” which describes Navarro’s recent loss of his mother to cancer. Aside from the studio “guest list”, any effort to categorize Pendulum as “no depression” material stretches any definition of the genre to it’s limits. It won’t be everyone’s cup ‘o tea, but if you like ’em pretty this one is worth a spin.