Desire Like Dynamite is Sandra McCracken's 2013 release. Your heart, brain and ears will all be equally attended to as clever melodies dance with candid lyrics above a rich bed of folk-pop instrumentation. Take opening track
Go for example. A whimsical string line and (serendipitously taped-up) piano introduces deceptively understated lyrics like
Listen when you first wake, your compass aligns to the sounds of the morning, thoughts like tiny earthquakes alive in your head, a light and a warning. As the additional organ, drums and trumpet usher in the chorus, the song literally comes alive in conjunction with the direction of the lyrics. With
Forgiveness, the quiet piano ballad unrolls over a steadily strummed acoustic guitar that gives just enough of an uncluttered foundation for the gravity of
When the blessed assurance is hidden behind a great cloud, when the joy is a secret and pain like a trumpeted sound, oh for grace to be measured by more than my means and to love with a love that gives free without strings. You could actually pick any song as this poetic synergy is genuinely found throughout the entirety of Desire Like Dynamite, creating an integrated listening experience that sticks with you long after the final song has ended. In addition to writing and performing, Sandra produced Desire Like Dynamite with Derek Webb, with additional co-production assistance from Jordan Brooke Hamlin and Joshua Moore. Derek, Jordan and Joshua also contributed their talents via a variety of instrumentation throughout the songs. Sandra even has a few impressive guest vocals from her friends Matthew Perryman Jones (
The Wait), Lori Chaffer (
Dynamite,
Forgiveness) and Chelsey Scott (
Forgiveness). The final result is a stirring album from a fantastic artist that is beautifully accompanied by a creative community of friends. - noisetrade
CD Details
- Release Date: February 14, 2013
- Record Label: Independent
- UPC: 887516033315
- Number of Discs: 1
Listen Before You Buy
