Carolyn Currie “Waves of Silence” (High Horse Records, 2009)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – All Tracks FCC CLEAN

4th album of Maine-based singer/songwriter Carolyn Currie. Poetic lyrics are an important part of the songs. Slow, folky sound. Currie’s soprano voice dominates a nicely choreographed ensemble. She plays 6 and 12 string acoustic guitar on all tracks. Currie’s voice sounds like a cross between Joni Mitchell, mid-career Judy Collins, and Alison Krauss.

Try tracks 1, 3, 8, 9 (2 and 6 if you like Irish flute)
Tracks
1. Rain 4:29 – an anti-Iraq war song
2. Don't Run with Scissors 4:01 – taking risks. Finger picking on guitar. Irish flavor with penny whistle/Irish flute, cello, fiddle accompaniment
3. I am an Island 3:53 – her “token love song”. Big cello and keyboards
4. Hello Silence 5:54 – leaving a bad relationship, cello
5. After 4:47 – mid-tempo, depressive, about a suicide
6. Ahab's Wife 4:12 – love sails off. Irish flute, cello, bass, accordion
7. Kaleidoscope 4:13 – traveling lover won’t commit, cello solo
8. Rolling Thunder 5:26 – haunting, about the Vietnam war. Percussion recreates war sounds
9. The World is Flat 4:47 – “I’m scared of my mediocrity.” Great message for a Stanford audience, Finger picking, fiddle
10. Hot for a House 3:52 – home ownership & the financial crash, bass
11. Lullaby 2:56 – children grow up. Keyboards, cello