As much as I enjoy experimental music, it’s good sometimes to be reminded of the simplicity and directness of solid, conventional musicianship.
The Michigan-born, Missouri-based Bombara emphasizes the organic nature of the ten tunes on her sixth album saying that “songs are a by-product of my existence”. Her voice is a little like that of Cowboy Junkies’ Margo Timmins although not quite so sultry.
The album is named after a log cabin in the Rocky Mountains where songs conceived on the road took shape. Thereafter, they were recorded in less than a week with the help of producer John Calvin Abney who also plays keyboards. Samuel Gregg (guitar) and Mike Shurk (drums) are the other musicians who contribute to the 1970s influenced Americana sound.
All the tracks were co-written with bassist Kit Hamon except for the piano ballad All Good Things which Hamon wrote alone to vent his dismay at the way the U.S. of A is rapidly losing any greatness it once had (“Do you get the feeling that everything is broken?”).
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Aside from this, none of the other tracks are remotely political. The ways of love rather than abuses of power provide the main themes.
While there are no alarms or surprises, standout tracks like I Only Cry When I’m Alone and Growing Wings are examples of the optimistic, unpretentious song-writing on offer.
Beth Bombara’s website
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