Little Reviews: February 2004

Alysson Light-Looking Glass Conversation
Label: self released (2003)
Genre: Contemporary Folk Pop
Provenance: North Carolina/Utah
Pix: Silken Wind

Comments: Alysson has a lovely voice that sometimes takes off and soars into ethereal soprano flight. And there's a sort of neat 60s dreamy psychfolk aura to a few of the tracks. That's why I like the CD OK. On the other hand, I didn't even notice the lyrics, except for these words, "The pine trees are blowing/With the winds of your hurricane." If I'd concentrated on listening, I'd have heard some interesting, pretty imagery, but no proper nouns. But I just couldn't and plus the tracks seemed to blur into one another. The songs are original, production values are good, her voice is sometimes (?) mutitracked, and there's a lot of her piano type keyboard in the arrangements...and a little jazz. More for the s/s enthusiast.

http://www.soundclick.com/alyssonlight

Lauren Sheehan-Some Old Lonesome Day
Label: self (2002)
Genre: Traditional American
Provenance: PDX
Pix: House Carpenter, Little Maggie

Comments: A spectrum of countryish and bluesy tracks, with an overall sense of yodely bluesiness...there's a good slippery yodel and a proper flatness to Lauren's voice, even if she is from Expressoland. The back-up band of Northwestern Yokels give her a lot of competition, and sometimes I think it's her backing the band! Includes banjo, whiney fiddle, mando, and some others. Good honest rootsy recording with good musicians.

http://www.laurensheehanmusic.com

Comments: All trad Scots including some "Child Ballads," performed in Andrew's crusty deep voice. This is one of my favorites of the year, perhaps because of his attention to singing the true heart of the songs though in American voice, and because he sharpens the same edge of bright magic and barren darkness as on his own compositions. An instrumental cast of stars includes Tracy Grammer, nautical Pint and hurdy gurdy Dale, and Kansas City accordionist Joe Root; arrangements vary a lot between a capella, harp, gurdy, and some other acoustic stuff, which is good.

http://www.waterbug.com

gennett at gorge dot net

The Columbia Gypsy