Songbird at Midnight: The Legacy of Fanny Crosby; Amanda Noel

Album: Songbird at Midnight  (The Legacy of Fanny Crosby; Vol 1)
Artist:  Amanda Noel (vocalist)  with husband Jonathan and friends.
Song Craft: Fanny J. Crosby 1820-1915

Genre:  Christian Hymns as written by Fanny Crosby, recast with modern country and adult contemporary production.  (Compares with similar re-hymn efforts by the Indelible Grace Group.)

Jacob Montague: All Creatures V 1 - review by Kirk

Artist: Jacob Montague
Album: All Creatures (V1)
Genre:  Indie, instrumental, psychedelic, improvisational city of God space folke rock - or something like that.   Whatever this is, it is simply fantastical.   (Shares traits in common with Sufjan Stevens and Josh Garrels.)

Noise Trade: Free Download, fully worthy of a major tip.

Something is amiss - or a stir in the Cosmos.  This will be the second album of chilling Psalmadic beauty that I have discovered in a couple of days through Noise Trade.  This is the second album where I want to run out into the streets, grab folks by the collar and yell: 'Listen to This NOW."  A couple of days ago I discovered the gorgeous voice of Liz Vice, today I discover the otherworldly harmonies, soaring textures, and audio imagination of Jacob Montague.

Liz Vice: There's a Light, album review by Kirk

Do you ever hear a recording that makes you want to run out into the streets, start shouting or grabbing folks by the collar and say... MAN, WOMAN, you gotta hear this.

WELL!!!

Artist: Liz Vice

Album: There is a Light

Genre: Gospel, Old School R&B with just a touch of hipster...

I am only in my very first listen, and I can already hear a gospel masterpiece, the kind of recording I want to live in, love in, and delight in God in.

Now here is the trick.  I cannot really tell you that much about Liz.  I never heard of the women before twenty minutes ago...

Nor am I gonna spend a whole lot of time describing the music.  Because, well - it's just perfect, AND

You can hear the whole album and even download it from Noise Trade absolutely free.

http://noisetrade.com/lizvice/theres-a-light

As for me.  I recommend the free Listen, then the Tip Jar.  and a big tip at that.

So, what grabs me.

1) approach to the music.  Motown vibe. Opening strains are structurally like something by Al Green. Simply beautiful musical "restraint" throughout.  Love the lean trippy organ.

2) Voice.   Raspy, real.   I would  use the term '"sultry" but I don't want any of those connotations.  Make that Smoky... and well SOULful....(I am not gonna embarrass myself with any direct comparisons, cause well,  I don't know my female black Gospel singers like I should, though I did hear one song that had a very ..... Roberta Flack melodic line.  Oh, and Pink.  I actually heard Pink.

3) Content.   Its part of the terrain.  Anyone can sing gospel.  Even folks who aren't really given to the GOSPEL persay.   But this album rings true.  I hear a woman deeply in love with the Lord.  It is is written all over it.  Affection, Humility, desperation, Love.

4)  Augustine.   I think the woman has read Augustine.  "How can I contain you - when you contain all things.."

Ps.   Liz is with an Artistic Collective "Deeper Well."  Find out more here. 

I will probably polish this up later, but I wanted to get this in your ear.

Check out the Video: 

http://deeper-well.com/videos/empty-me-out/

or this, a single track on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7wVLtt9mpk