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Mare Lennon Reviews
Mare Lennon
REVIEWS
Performing
Songwriter Magazine, MAY
1999
(named one of "TOP 12 INDEPENDENTLY
RELEASED CDS")
"Chasing sacred rules me/to find a
place where I can rest/Somehow it eludes me/The so-called place
that's heaven blessed." Those opening lines from the title track of
Mare Lennon's debut disc sums up her muse pretty succinctly. To
express her search she draws inspiration from the earth and all its
elements and inhabitants.
Kicking off with "Speak To The Wind,"
she laments the mysteries and mundanities of the "cosmic joke" that
life can be, but refuses to let her spirit be broken. "Coyote" is
actually a woman, a seductress who "leaves a trail of blood and
wine." In "Falcon's Rage" she means to shake herself and anyone else
listening from complacency.
All is not likeÉheavy, dude. Lennon
knows how to lighten things up and she does so with the lovely
"Sleeping On The Moon" and "French Kiss." She also knows how to write
a knock-out love song like "Never Get Used To Me," and how to
surround herself with some very talented players from the L.A. music
scene. They give her a sound that is warm and lush. It's big but not
"too big." As is always the case, the best music comes from the
"search," not in the "finding."
Independent
Songwriter Web Magazine,
OCT 1998
Mare's album "Chasing Sacred," is a
beautiful head dive into a fountain of sparkling ideas and refreshing
insight. "Speak to the Wind" is a cross between Gretchen Peters
perspective and a touch of Trishia Yearwood vocal inflection. Lush
layers of sound engulf this climatic production.
The instrumental storyline weaves
itself out of the lyrical structure with the intensity of a
hurricane. This is a composition of feeling and interpretation rather
than the literal sense. "Coyote" odd minor chords accent the
multi-changing bridges for an eerie effect. The drum beat changes
direction effortlessly almost on the verge of poly rhythmic ecstasy
without making the relationship so obvious. With lyrics like,
"There's nothing I can do as I watch the trap you fall into/Feel you
falling, Hear you thrashing,/Know you're calling, Feel you
crashing"....you get the sense that you're watching the Discovery
Channel documentary but instead of wild animals, you're watching this
gory emotional display of two people dealing with the destructive
forces of jealousy, greed and helplessness all at the same time. You
feel a part of the action. Incredible insight that leaves the hair
standing up on the back of your neck.
"Never Get Used to Me" just vocal and
piano joining in the hollow acoustics of a large empty space. The
emotional emptiness of the person in the song is beautifully accented
by the sparse production, the spacious atmosphere and the simple
vocal projection. A classic gem. "Falcon's Rage," restless abandon,
angry undertones and a dark foreboding tempo are paired with the
angelic voice of mare who keeps herself composed during the
undulating chaos of this production.
"Juggling Light for Camille" captures
the essence of a man who has a hard time dealing with the intensity
of real love instead of a one night stand. There is a real sense of
history here with the musicianship, the whole song plays like a Roman
fairy tale but without the constraints of reality. "French Kiss" a
woman dreams of an out-of-body trip to the city of love...Paris.
Complete with a few cliches for familiarity but far from the norm
with the stunning voicings and jazz progressions. "Chasing Sacred"
mesmerizing, intoxicating, hypnotic. The lead guitar echoes the sound
of a weeping soul and the voice of intense longing with a mirrored
accuracy and enigmatic depth that leaves one feeling they're
emotionally transparent. "Sleeping on the Moon," lunar delights and
cosmic spectacle fill every precious space in this masterpiece.
"Apple Bites" from the perspective of a homeless inhabitant of the
cement jungle all set to the lounge flavored bosa nova tinged tune.
"Frank don't know nothin... Frank don't know blues," what a great
line and there's many more where that came from in this cut.
"Monterey" nice. "Rain on My Hands" how a simple rainstorm can cause
the heart to open up like the clouds and pour out the secrets trapped
within. Transitionally inspiring. Supreme simplicity in all it's
sweet and terrifying agony.
IN SUMMARY: There comes a time when a
very good songwriter will come in touch with their true identity,
their real self. They will allow themselves to open up and share
their most intimate perspectives, their deepest thought, their
innermost desires and wishes and they do this without wavering,
without regretting, without hesitation. The have an exciting
confidence in their direction, in their vision. So is the case with
Mare Lennon. The kind of writing that is present on this album, comes
from a deep grasp of self-realization, self-discovery and from
knowing where you fit into the grand scheme of life. It's from "that
place" that people rarely experience. This album represents
songwriting in it's rarest and most gifted capacity. You must
experience this to believe it.
South Bay Weekly/
L.A. Times Southbay Edition, MARCH 1999
by Alison Murray
Mare Lennon's voice is an instrument
that could stand alone. Strong and feminine, yet not too pretty at
times, her voice is reminiscent of Nanci Griffith, Stevie Nicks and
Tracy Chapman. The words she sings have a quiet power that get deeper
with each listening. This album, with it's moderately paced,
thoughtful songs, is a perfect accompaniment for a mellow Sunday
afternoon.
A member of the Southbay Songwriters
group, Lennon, who performs acoustic guitar on all but one of the
songs, has assembled a group of quite capable musicians to complement
the songs: Candy Lerman on violin, Ken Lasaine on electric guitar,
Matthew Lee on piano Osama Affiffi on bass and Jaysen Hawks on drums,
as well as other guest musicians.
The song "Coyote," which is about
friends who return to relationships that are not good for them, has a
nighttime-in-the-desert feel to it; "French Kiss" is a delightful
daydream about Paris; Speak to the Wind exudes the craziness of life;
and "Chasing Sacred" will resonate with anyone on a journey to find
safety. Particularly thoughtful is the melancholy "Juggling Light for
Camille," which Lennon wrote about the 10-year affair between
sculptor August Rodin and student Camille Claudel.
The album has been a successful so far.
It was twice featured on "Local Licks" at radio station KLOS 95.5 FM.
For information, write: marelennon@aol.com
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