At once rootsy, elegant and a little mystical, the Wailin' Jennys advance their art further on Bright Morning Stars. Members Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta, and Heather Masse pool their talents as singer/songwriters to create a luminous harmony-centered sound fusing contemporary folk, traditional hymnody and vocal-jazz styles in varying measure. The trio moves easily from hip-swinging rhythmic tracks like
Mona Louise and
Cherry Blossom Love to Appalachian-accented folk ballads like
Bird Song and otherworldly a cappella pieces like the title tune. Lyrically, a spirit of resolve through hard times resonates within these songs, heard in the billowy opening tune
Swing Low Sail High, the stirring, Indigo Girls-like
You Are Here and the waltzing closer
Last Goodbye. The Jennys wail most righteously on
Storm Comin,' a defiant tune with the earthiness of a Southern spiritual. Mark Howard and David Travers-Smith's production keeps the trio's voices front and center, surrounding them with tasty acoustic textures along with electric guitar, brass, and understated percussion. - itunes
CD Details
- Release Date: February 08, 2011
- Record Label: Red House Records
- UPC: 033651023425
- Number of Discs: 1
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