 |
 Caught in the Carousel - Music Reviews and More
|
Mia Doi Todd
Gea
City Zen
Singer/songwriter Mia Doi Todd's new album Gea will definitely make my Top Ten of 2008 list, without a doubt. For the uninitiated, Todd's vocals channel the depth and force of Julia Fordham and the warbling tenderness of Natalie Merchant, and her guitar-playing is as pastoral and hauntingly seductive as anything by Nick Drake. For those familiar with Todd's catalogue, this album takes up where Manzanita left off, with subtle flutes and string arrangements laced delicately through tracks like "Night Of A Thousand Kisses" and "Kokoro." Yet the record also features spare cuts like "Sleepless Nights," "In The End," and the fable-inspired "Big Bad Wolf & Black Widow Spider," all reminiscent of her older work. Hand drums and percussion provided by Andres Renteria give songs like "Esperar Es Caro" and "Can I Borrow You?" extra spice and zest. But the standout track, by far, is the 10-minute anthematic opener, "River of Life/The Yes Song," which embodies and epitomizes the Edenic cover-art beautifully. Todd paints a lyrical portrait of pre-civilized utopia, cleansing and refreshing the body and soul:
"The purple rocky mountains of the new world rose out of darkness.
We stumbled into our reflection; the sun came straight in our direction.
…The very first morning of our great love understanding,
The sun rose straight in our direction and awakened our perfection.
Freedom from oppression, self-expression for everyone every day…
No orders no borders no relatives no formers no futures no precedence."
Likewise, the album closes with similar hopes and sentiments in the softly buzzing hum of "Old World New World." Gea is an elemental folk record that soothes and inspires, like Mother Nature whispering in your ear. It's Sunday-morning bliss enough to last the rest of the week. Sheer grace.
--Mark Cabasino
Can we help you find something?