TWITTER: https://twitter.com/sarahdonner
MUSIC VIDEO: (PHOENIX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j13Jwyb-AnA
Written
by Larry Robertson, posted by blog admin
Sarah
Donner’s latest release Black Hole Heart finds her continuing to successfully
mine the same rich musical territory that has brought her considerable notice
thus far. The twelve songs on Black Hole Heart make use of traditional
instrumentation like mandolin and piano alongside the customary acoustic
guitar, but she also shows the daring to bring different instrumental voices
under her tent like trumpet and organ. Her lyrical talents are well displayed
on Black Hole Heart and her ability to marry metaphor with melody sets her
apart from a score of her contemporaries. There are no great shows of musical virtuosity
here; Donner, instead, concentrates on communicating melodic ideas and creating
complementary vehicles for her songwriting. There isn’t a single miss on this
album. Donner has created an exquisite work rife with the vulnerability and
melodic gifts that have drawn such attention.
“Phoenix”
is one of the marquee tracks on Black Hole Heart and it’s obvious why early on.
There’s a nice combination of an upward slant to the melody accompanied by a
light percussive shuffle that makes for some likeable listening. Her voice is a
perfect match for the song’s evolution, picking up more and more energy along
the way, and paying off nicely in the end. “Black Hole Heart”, despite its
relatively foreboding title, strikes an ultimately hopeful note. In the hands
of lesser talents, acoustic guitar can wear out its welcome as a limited
melodic imagination will rely on variations of the same two or three phrases.
Donner runs no risk of that. She is endlessly inventive with the instrument and
has the sort of tastefulness you don’t often find. Her tunes have exactly what
they need and no fat to be found.
“Tamsen
Donner 1847” is a perfect example of that. The acoustic guitar work provides
just enough musical color for enhancing Donner’s lyric. Her writing takes on a
storytelling air with this performance and she excels with it every bit as she
does with her more common personal and impressionistic style. “Athena” has a
light bluegrass/country music influence, but the same pop sensibilities
distinguishing much of the album come into play here and there’s some particularly
strong vocal harmonies that make the chorus all the more memorable. She brings
trumpet and organ into the mix for “The Flood”. The latter adds some discreet
color to the song while the former makes for an impressive instrumental break
thanks to Mike Batchelor’s fine playing. The breezy shuffle of “The Longest
Road” has some sharp and even humorous lyrics that benefit from Donner’s
emotional singing. It’s never emotion that leaves you dispirited – there’s
something about Donner’s voice that’s gloriously life affirming and makes even
the darkest song a healing experience of sorts. “Sinking Ship” is similar to
the earlier “Tamsen Donner 1847” in the sense that it is depicts character and
narrative. It doesn’t have the same lyrical focus as the aforementioned tune,
but it is a fine track nonetheless with condensed lines, well chosen language,
and some atmospheric harmonies. Sarah Donner’s Black Hole Heart ranks among her
finest achievements and sets the bar higher than ever for any following
releases.
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