The Ups and Downs of Life: A Road Travelled More Often than We Would Like
Another recent musical discovery has . . . who is not really that new, but who is well worth discovering is Madeleine Peyroux. Something in the emotional depth of her singing spoke to me right away. And unlike the last two groups I alluded to, while her music can be embracing and often communicates a pulse of real beauty, there is also in much of her music an ongoing awareness of the parts of life that are more difficult.
Her most recent album is called "Secular Hymns". That's a complex title! In listening I feel as though the anthemic parts are not in the melodies or harmonies but in the text. She speaks forthrightly about experiences that are difficult emotionally and require perseverance. For me, the effect is more contemplative, however, an interior reflection that might happen in our own lives when "liturgy" pauses and there is a moment of silence when we find the truth of interior thoughts plain and clarity in our memories.
The energy of the music emanates from a strong personality. She does a great service to encourage us to expose the bends in our own roads . . . I also sense a strong aspirational tone. We can leave naivety behind and know where our bruises are, but we can also know that this is not the end of the story. Perhaps there is an invitation there.
Her most recent album is called "Secular Hymns". That's a complex title! In listening I feel as though the anthemic parts are not in the melodies or harmonies but in the text. She speaks forthrightly about experiences that are difficult emotionally and require perseverance. For me, the effect is more contemplative, however, an interior reflection that might happen in our own lives when "liturgy" pauses and there is a moment of silence when we find the truth of interior thoughts plain and clarity in our memories. The energy of the music emanates from a strong personality. She does a great service to encourage us to expose the bends in our own roads . . . I also sense a strong aspirational tone. We can leave naivety behind and know where our bruises are, but we can also know that this is not the end of the story. Perhaps there is an invitation there.
