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review by Bill Binkelman Jonathan (acoustic guitar) and Jennifer Adams (cello), the duo who call themselves Montana Skies, leapfrog over their debut recording on their sophomore release. While their first CD was a solid album, it left me wondering if they had held something back and I also longed for more original compositions. Chasing the Sun does contain a few cover tunes, but the overall execution of those covers as well as the strength of the self-penned numbers catapults Chasing the Sun to another plane of success entirely. It reveals that the promise made by the duo's musicianship on the first release is matched by both their composing skills and their abilities to inject new life into someone else's music. From the opening wistful yet mildly propulsive "Tunnels" which see-saws between a reflective refrain and a more cheery passage, we jump into one of the CD's two gypsy/flamenco-ish pieces, "Gringo Flamenco." This is a fiery and spicy blend of multi-tracked guitar and features some of Jennifer's most spirited cello work, including some intriguing short bowing (the latter elicited a stunned "Whoa!" from my wife, Kathryn, herself a violist and violinist). After that song, believe it or not, the duo cover "House of the Rising Sun" (with an able assist from mandolin player Butch Baldassari) and they totally cut any previous versions I've heard! The classic is treated to a rural down-home blues rendition and it is flat out cool, especially when Jonathan lets loose during one of the solos. Color me shocked and impressed that such a standard could sound so fresh! One thing that I hungered for more of on their first CD was a gentler and softer sound. Apparently, the Adams read my mind as they deliver just that on several selections, such as "Solstice 21" (a song as romantic as any I've heard in a long while). Immediately next is another soft tune, "Xeroscape," which is somber and reflective. The interplay of cello and guitar on this track is some of the best on the album. Other tracks include another blending of gypsy and Spanish music ("El Gitano") which is less powerful but more dramatic than the earlier "Gringo Flamenco," a fascinating cover the The Police's "Message in a Bottle" (not as startlingly unique as "House of..." but a formidable effort nonetheless), and the title track, which is arguably the most sedate and the "prettiest" selection on the album (also the longest at a tick over six minutes). This piece has a gentle sense of swaying grace to it, coming from the velvety smooth movement of Jennifer's bow across her cello. Also of note on the CD is a guest appearance from pianist Robin Spielberg on "Three," a friendly uptempo number on which the three artists cut loose a bit and have a grand time playing off each other. The album concludes in fine fashion with the bittersweet ballad "Ashokan Farewell" (again featuring Bucth Baldassari on mandolin) and it's one of the most fitting conclusions I've heard to an album this year. Montana Skies deliver a wonderful recording on Chasing the Sun. Whether whooping it up on upbeat and fun-filled tracks or playing with subtlety and nuance on the quieter and softer numbers, Jonathan and Jennifer Adams show that they are "taking their game to the next level" and setting their sites on becoming a force to be reckoned with in contemporary acoustic instrumental music. Chasing the Sun is one of the best albums of 2004 and I highly recommend it without any reservation to acoustic music fans everywhere! |
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