R.X. Bertoldi's first home-made studio album, recorded on 4-track cassette in a spare bedroom at his now deceased mother's home (RIP Mamma Agnese) and his studio apartment in Ballard, WA in the mid-1990s. His lead song on the CD, "Black Coffee in the Morning," wound up being played a few times a week on SiriusXM's Coffeehouse program over 15 years later — and for almost five years running — from late 2011 through 2016. Bob was floored when friends and family (who, unlike himself, actually had a SiriusXM radio subscription) told him they'd heard his song on the radio. After the initial surprise, he was both grateful and pleased to know that others were hearing and enjoying his music.

R.X. “Bob” Bertoldi’s latest single is a dynamic, unvarnished and largely solo acoustic effort. The fresh track reads and sounds like a heartfelt, wistful acknowledgement of the protagonist’s inability to properly grieve the early loss of his father, and the years of flawed thinking and poor decision making that followed. The self-isolation, delusions, and pleasure seeking to numb the pain referenced in the lyrics only appear to have compounded his initial woes.

Whether the protagonist's plight is entirely autobiographical or not, Bob himself seems to have woken up on the right side of songwriting and making music. He capably handles nearly all the instruments on “Sleepwalking”, including the guitars, vocals, drums and percussion. Only the bass was recorded at a distance by Seattle maestro Keith Lowe, and his notes lock perfectly in step with Bertoldi's basic but full-bodied drumming to give a solid foundation to the sound and story of this confessional stroll. It was all well mixed by Johnny Sangster, acclaimed Seattle guitarist (Case/Lang/Veirs, Neko Case, Tripwires), and Crackle & Pop Studio co-owner / producer (Mudhoney, The Posies and more).

Although a slower tempo ballad, “Sleepwalking” is anything but a sleeper. The tune traces a fine ruminating line between past sorrow and present gratitude. The music and lyrics show that R.X. Bertoldi continues to vigorously follow his muse, despite some unfavorable conditions and the unsettling times of Covid-19. Americana listeners are sure to appreciate “Sleepwalking” for its fine blend of reflective lyrics, organic instrumentation and heartfelt delivery.

Bertoldi’s first Covid-time single (January 2021) found him reflecting on America’s recent political and social landscape. He shouts out kudos to “those heroes” who demonstrate “real courage and strength”, as opposed to “some politicians” who will do any and everything possible to “hold on to their power”. The tune’s steady groove is powered by Bertoldi’s own Covid-bound/home-recorded acoustic guitar, bare bones drumming, vocals and percussion, all greatly boosted by acclaimed virtuoso Keith Lowe’s equally driving bass lines. Bertoldi’s sparse backing vocals also add some tension to this dynamic sound sketch of the U.S.A.'s current socio-political scene. The singer underscores that “it’s time to pull the plug” on the real life “Charlatan & Puppet Show”. The song itself is a catchy groove that throws a harsh light on the divisive politics of recent years--one that celebrates the departure of such so called "leaders" from office.