Jane Fallon - Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky

Jane Fallon - Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky
2010, Jane Fallon/BMI

Jane Fallon was born on the West Coast but calls New England home. Her mix of gentle humor, intelligence and deep musicality imbues her songs with an artfulness that is unusual. Fallon plays throughout the Northeast, charming audiences everywhere she goes. Fallon recently released her third studio album, Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky, her best work to date.

Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky opens with "Give Me Grace", the Appalachian prayer of an octogenarian who is thankful for the blessing of a life well-lived but also seeks refuge from the burdens of his years. Fallon's textured alto is poignant, caressing the story with a rough-hewn beauty that is illuminated by a sweet harmony vocal. "It's How Deep" is morality tale stressing the quality of memory over quantity. There's a tragic warmth to this tale of love conquering even the cruelest of human frailties. Fallon lightens the tone with "Money's Gone Blues", a humorous and well-written story-song with a vaudeville feel.

"One Horse Town", written by Jim Henry, is about the tragedy and triumph of raising children in a small town, where success means escape for the children as their parents sew lives out of simple pleasures at home. It's a well-written song full of nuance and levels of humanity that are hard to capture in song. Fallon's "Blue Dress" is the heart-warming remembrance of a widower who revels in a photo his wife had taken before they were married. The story is a testament to the power of love to overcome even death, and is written in delicate human terms. In "The Boy He Used To Be", Fallon tells the story of a World War II soldier who went to war a peaceful boy and came back home a broken man. In a generation where such things were not discussed, many suffered and died slowly from wounds that even their loved ones might never have seen. Fallon illuminates one such tail as a reminder of the costs of war that we never see.

"Country Winter's Night" is a personal look at a relationship that didn't pan out. Fallon takes the best from the experience; grateful for the ride and sorry for the fall. The reverie expressed here is from a place of peace where hope resides but reality reigns. "Gemini Rising" is a piano ballad about the belief that the stars control our destinies, exploring the apparent fallacy of such an idea yet noting the similarities that many seem to share. Fallon closes with "Heaven Can't Help You", a decent tune that is alright on its own but is perhaps something of a let-down as a closer to an otherwise exceptional album.

Jane Fallon isn't about to blow you away with her rustic voice and homespun stories of real people, places and emotions, but she is an adept story-teller and crafter of songs. Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky requires careful, attentive listening, as Fallon's greatest gift as a songwriter is in the details. Each song here plays as if it has been perfected through mercurial craftsmanship and care. This effect is accomplished without making the songs sound overwrought, which is a surprise, but Fallon's eye for detail is unquestionable. Spend some time with Fallon and Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky. You won't be disappointed.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Jane Fallon at http://www.janefallon.com/ or www.myspace.com/janefallonfolk. Gemini Rising In A Patchwork Sky is available as a CD or Download from CDBaby. Downloads are also available via iTunes.

Review: Lisa Hugo - It's Time

Lisa Hugo - It's Time
2009, Lisa Hugo/GEMA

Melbourne, Australia native Lisa Hugo has pretty much done it all as an entertainer. Singer, pianist, songwriter and TV star, Hugo has performed to thousands of fans in Australia, throughout Europe, on cruise ships and in hotels all over the world, and these days in her home base of Dubai, U.A.E. On top of all of this, Hugo is a top-shelf vocal coach with a range that covers three octaves and a big sound that counters her diminutive stature. Hugo's latest album, It's Time, features Belgian musicians Dirk van der Linden (guitar/Hammond organ); Janos Bruneel (double bass) and Pieter Vandergooten (drums) across eight original tunes and three covers.

It's Time opens with "With You I Can Be Me", showcasing Hugo's wonderfully sultry alto voice perfectly. Presented in a nifty jazz/pop arrangement, the bright and airy tune contrasts well with Hugo's amber vocal hues. "Blame It On The Sun" (Stevie Wonder) is sentimental and rueful; pretty but not overly memorable. "Lovin' You" falls into the sappy end of the boat again; which would be forgivable were the energy or camp there to offset/support it. Hugo's voice is pretty here, but the energy level is flat. "Oh, My Baby" seems fit to Adult-Contemporary radio standards; a song you'd most likely here on a syndicated show like Delilah or on a mix-tape somewhere. "The Letter" (Wayne Carson Thompson, made famous by The Box Tops) is an interesting interpretation; much slower and darker than the original. This one may take you by surprise as it is initially quite alien to your pre-conception of the song, but the cover is surprisingly good and works in spite of the long history of the song. "Time Is A Healer" (Eva Cassidy) is the final cover on the album, an average take that perhaps only the hard-core Cassidy fans will have a strong opinion about one way or the other. "Please Try To Understand" features Hugo at her vocal best on a song that just isn't up to the level of the singer. Hugo closes positively with "Strong At Heart", a solid message delivered in a solitary and lovely arrangement that makes the album more memorable.

Lisa Hugo has a great voice, but the song selection and arrangements on It's Time don't always serve her well. The songwriting in general is average to slightly above; leaving Hugo to carry the songs with her voice; a feat she pulls off more often than not. Even the covers seem like they've perhaps been chosen more on the basis of personal preference rather than what fits Hugo's voice, with the exception of "The Letter", which turns out to be one of the bright spots of the experience. It's Time is a decent listen, but perhaps doesn't shine the best light on Hugo, whose voice deserves more attention than this album will garner her.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Lisa Hugo at http://www.lisahugo.net/ or www.myspace.com/lisahugo. It's Time is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.

Review: Carla Seidl - Under My Skin

Carla Seidl – Under My Skin
2009, Carla Seidl Music
Carla Seidl is a singer/songwriter/radio producer/world traveler based in Huntington, NY. In January of this year she released her first album, Under My Skin. Sounding a bit like Eva Cassidy with a little Norah Jones thrown in for good measure, Seidl uses her multi-textured voice to cast a spell on listeners.

Carla Seidl has this wonderfully distinctive voice made up of honey, amber and wood timbres, almost achieving a dual tone in her sound that is warm and memorable. On Under My Skin she has mostly written/selected songs that fit her voice perfectly; songs generally of gentle or reserved arrangements that allow the color and tone of her voice to have free reign in your mind. The first track, Flame In The Dark, goes a step further; the a Cappella arrangement is dark and beautiful. Lucilla Galeazzi's Quante Selle nel Cielo con La Luna is the perfect vehicle for Seidl’s voice, however, emanating a powerful grace and beauty. Under My Skin finds Seidl at her confessional best in a folk song that is like to get covered by others. Other highlights include Gul Senin Tenin, A Subtle Glance, Far And Wide and a cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic Scarborough Fair.

Carla Seidl is one of the more distinctive vocalists you’ll find. While her sound isn’t what you might call pretty, it is very listenable and memorable as long as she stays in her vocal comfort zone. Under My Skin is a varied and uneven album full of some very strong songs. Seidl occasionally picks one that just doesn’t seem to fit her voice, but even then gives it her all. It’s an intriguing introduction that leaves us wondering what she’ll do next, and interested enough to want to find out.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Carla Seidl at http://www.carlaseidl.com/. You can purchase a copy of Under My Skin at www.cdbaby.com/cd/carlaseidl.