Rob Morsberger - A Part Of You

Rob Morsberger - A Part Of You
2012, Hieroglyph Records

Rob Morsberger is the sort of guy who makes things happen musically.  A singer, songwriter and composer, Morsberger’s work has been featured on PBS’ NOVAScience/NOW, Frontline and Masterpiece Theater.  As a sideman, he’s worked with My Morning Jacket, Patti Smith, Crash Test Dummies, Loudon Wainwright III, Marshall Crenshaw, Willie Nile and others.  But it’s Morsberger’s solo work that’s most intriguing.  His previous albums have been a mix of eclectic and literate pop songs with hooks impale your ears and drag you along for the ride.  Morsberger recently released two new albums, one of which we are reviewing today.  A Part Of You is written from the perspective of a father diagnosed with terminal brain cancer for his young son; an attempt to leave a lasting message and gift to see him through his growing up years.

It would be easy to see such a work in terms of darkness, but while living in a valley of shadows, Morsberger projects light on A Part Of You.  The album opens with the contemplative and beautiful "This Isn't Kindness", exploring the human struggle to differentiate charity from love. It is a song of thanks and a teaching moment from father to son. "The Russian Cartographer" is an adept allegory for Morsberger's own live, swapping out an artist who maps people and emotions in song for a Man who delineates boundaries and landmarks for others to follow. It's a beautiful biograph in song with some deeply personal connections.

"An Inside Place" is deeply reminiscent at times of Sting's songwriting on The Soul Cages. The sense of being trapped within oneself transforms into an urgent need to be heard done up in Baroque pop undertones. The transition is vital, and in its own elemental way, beautiful. "The Man And The Birds" is a powerful take on overcoming death. As Death himself looks on, birds come down and lift a man out of his reach. The spiritual allegory between birds and angels is unmistakable, and the imagery has a sort of classical beauty. Brad Roberts adds his distinctive baritone voice here in duet to create an amazing split between light and darkness.

"Maydianne" finds Morsberger taking a break from deeper reflections for a love story told in song. If the Beatles ever wrote in a classical romanticism hue it might sound a lot like this. Issues of spirituality, art and legacy are in play in "Jacob Wrestles With An Angel". Morsberger's path to discovery here is fraught with more questions than answers, reflecting an incredibly real negotiation to find meaning in the fleeting valley between birth and death.

"Cancer Road" is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of life's sometimes surprising curves. The piano- driven arrangement is simple and full if peace, as perspective puts understanding in its proper place. Morsberger is at his most powerful in "A Part Of You", a live song from father to son. The heavily orchestrated arrangement is the perfect complement, as Morsberger creates an eternal greeting in place of words of parting.

"A Good Laugh" is painted against an eccentric and unsettled arrangement seemingly representing the chaos of life. In it, Morsberger reminds listeners that the greatest tragedy of all is not learning to laugh at life. He makes this point by including the infectious laughter of his son Elan. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face then you've forgotten how to listen. A Part Of You closes with "You Son", a sweet love ballad from father to son that is personal and universal all at once.

Rob Morsberger continues to grow as an artist, and in the act of A Part Of You has crafted his most affecting and personal work to date. Informed by the tragedy of a death foretold, Morsberger finds the vitality of life in the love of his son. You might liken his efforts to turning lemons into lemonade, but with A Part Of You Morsberger comes much closer to turning water into wine. A Part Of You is nothing less than a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.robmorsberger.com. 

Jodi Shaw - In Waterland

Jodi Shaw – In Waterland
2012, Jodi Shaw

Jodi Shaw has always been a bit off the beaten path.  The Canadian-born, self-taught singer songwriter transitioned to songs from poetry, finding that her aural and lexemic muse flowed freely together.  In 2009, Shaw teamed up with fellow Canadian Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Blue Rodeo) to record her latest album, In Waterland, her most accomplished work to date.  In Waterland (due May 5, 2012) took a long time to make it out into the world.  Partway through the creative process, Shaw discovered she was pregnant.  After the birth of twins, she took some time off from music, but returned to complete the album.  Shaw’s poetry and musical sensibilities intertwine to near perfect on In Waterland, a deeply personal and moving experience that is as subtle as the current, and as deep and unbending as the tide.

Kicking things off with “Swim”, Shaw sinks into a sparse and gorgeous musical medium that flows as freely as an ocean current.  Shaw’s voice is incredibly warm, falling somewhere between the edgy depths of Tori Amos and the enigma that is Leslie Feist, with a touch of Fiona Apple’s edge thrown in.  Shaw goes for shock and awe in “The Witch”, assaulting listeners’ preconceptions full on with deep and esoteric musings on the mutability of beauty.  This could be a message from mother to daughter, perhaps, but it explores the essence of beauty as opposed to the often bollixed perceptions of the world.  This is a wow moment for Jodi Shaw, both as a writer and a performer.

Shaw doesn’t waste time offering up another wow, digging deep for Jack & Jill with ruminations on imperfection and love, and how they interrelate.  Shaw builds offsets her vocal affect with a simple and sparse arrangement that draws equally on the twin beauties of the sonic and silence.  Down through these currents to a more carnal side of human nature, Shaw digs in to “Mystery Of Love”, an utterly poetic yet in your face come on.  There is more here than meets the eye/ear, however, as Shaw shows that even desire has many levels.

Shaw gives listeners a breather with “To The Country (We Go)”, a solid transition that sets up the fantasy/reality of “This Balloon/Ode To Zvezdochka”, a tribute to the last Russian dog cosmonaut, if you will.  Think of this as art deco philosophy, driven in time and place by thought that is not trapped by time frame it captures.  “Fortunate Prince” is once again solid, setting the stage for the utter beauty of the title track, “In Waterland”.  Here Shaw paints with a broad brush, in poetic and graceful strokes that go much deeper than the surface.  Shaw explores the connections we make, the loneliness we feel, and the occasional bits of magic we encounter along the way. You’ll find yourself playing this song again and again; plumbing its depths for deeper meaning that is always just out of reach.

In “Hell’s Bells”, Shaw explores the confusion and pain of being taken in romantically by someone whose intentions aren’t as pure or open as your own.  Shaw leaves no emotional stone unturned, exploring the depths and of personal disgrace in both lyrics and music.  In Waterland closes by turning the game around on those who would toy.  In “Fellas”, Shaw is the huntress and the boys are expendable.  You might expect a tongue in cheek nod here, but if there, it never quite becomes apparent.  It’s a powerful close, one that creates its own suspense without ever answering, or even asking, a question.

It’s a cliché, perhaps, but In Waterland is a revelation.  Jodi Shaw creates music like a master painter creates art, with each single stroke building to something beautiful, ear-catching and raw.  The album is nothing short of sublime, leaving rote ideas and musical schemes by the wayside, in favor of raw honesty, and a musical purity not often approached in popular music.  The same melodic magic that Sarah McLachlan is capable of is here, but in more subtle and vaguely darker tones.  At the same time, Shaw exudes the edge of Amos, Apple and Feist.  The album is nothing less than stunning, a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc for certain.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Jodi Shaw at www.JodiShaw.com or www.myspace.com/jodishaw.  In Waterland makes its way into the world on CD on May 5, 2012.  For those of you who prefer to rent your music, it's already available as a download through the etailers below, as well as through the Wildy's World Amazon Store.

    Amazon MP3          iTunes

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