Artist: Lisa Kane
CD: "Surroundings"
By:
Jennifer Layton
Indie-Music.com
Friday, August 09, 2002
Another CD from Lisa Kane, another chance to live in her world. I wish I could stay forever the way she does, with a muse that works overtime, a heart that is completely unafraid to express her intense emotions, and arms open wide to gather blessings. I turn into a flower child listening to her CDs.
Her latest is Surroundings. After the last CD, which was simply Lisa and her guitar, it.s great to hear with with a band again. And what a talented group of musicians. John Devine provides gorgeous sax work in "Myself to Blame" and "Katy". Tim Lyles provides a brief interlude of instrumental piano musing called "Anything You Need". and Crystalline turns the violin into an ominous voice in "Mother Nature's Pace".
But it's Kane's songwriting that pulls everything together, creating a collection of songs connected by her low, warm, welcoming, mother earth voice. She begins with "Sorry I Missed That," a song filled with nature - ancient oaks, white clover honey, sage soap, and bright colors blended on a loom. Nature also takes center stage in "Mother Nature's Pace," another one of those modern protest folk songs that Kane does so well:
That smooth talkin' man in his silk suit
said to call him if you change your way.
So the product isn't fit for humans, but
think of all the dollars you'll save.
Yeah, you might kill off a few monarchs
but you'll feed chicken cattle and pig.
Demoralize a third world country, but
"Hey man you got to think big."
Many of these tracks are floating, swirling shades of blue, sweet folk music with an inspirational feel. (I love that the character named Jesus in "Tumble in Grace" makes his living staining glass.)
But Kane has a couple of surprises up her sleeve, starting with the drawling, rocking "Ma'am," a story of a family with two rebellious kids. Later, before I've even recovered from that, she delivers jazzy funk in "Myself to Blame." This song is a sensual exploration of the moments just before infidelity:
A few hours there and here is less than meeting my needs.
Your strong lean fingers all point directly at me.
I can taste the sensation across this crowded room.
I'm one quick drink away from leaving here with you,
and myself to blame.
Her voice croons and moans with the sax as the track closes out. I didn't know she had this in her.
Her lyrics are sometimes bruising (check out the lyrics of drug addiction in "Anything You Need"), and sometimes mournful, but it's all real. Kane never shrinks before the truth or tries to make it pretty. Pure, honest folk music is still alive and well as long as Kane's muse keeps working her magic.