“Did you ever walk when your feet were tired/Did you ever walk when the
road was gone/Did you ever sing when your heart was aching?” These
questions open the album, and are questions for our time, certainly, as are “Did you ever laugh when all hope was lost/Did
you ever laugh just to ease the pain?” This song, “Courage For The Morning,”
was written by Anya Hinkle and has a positive and sweet folk vibe, with the
sound of the mandolin in particular working to lift us up. That instrument
often has that power. We could all use a little courage for morning, and for
the day. “Did you ever stand when the
rest were silent?” “Courage For The Morning” is followed by “Palisades,” written
by Greg Stiglets, who sings lead on it. That harmonica work at the beginning
has a friendly sound, helping to comfort us. This song has a pretty and inviting
sound. “What do your eyes see/Do you long
for me tonight/Do the clouded skies/Hide the moon’s full gaze/Do you long for
your love tonight.”
“Ballad Of Zona Abston” is one
of those great story songs, this one written by Anya Hinkle, who sings lead on
it. This one has a more serious sound, and tells the story of a woman in a
mining town. There are a lot of memorable lyrics, such as “The mining’s all done, but we’re still on this mountain/I guess our
roots were stronger than our wings” and “And a mine’s just a hole in the ground like any other.” “Ballad Of
Zona Abston” won the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition in the bluegrass
category at MerleFest in 2019. We return to a lighter, more cheerful sound with
“Salsa,” a song written by Greg Stiglets about a dog, a Great Pyrenees. There
is something gentle about this one. That’s followed by “Fill The Air,” a sweet
and pretty song written by Greg Stiglets and Anya Hinkle, featuring some nice
blending of the two voices. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Such a beautiful voice you’ve been given/What
kind of god would take you away from your home/I fall to my knees now,
defeated/And fill the air with my lonesome song.” This is one of my
personal favorites.
Anya takes lead vocal duties on
“West Of The Cumberlands,”which she also wrote. “Lost in space, lost on the highway, lost in time/Couple hundred
dollars/Dinner and two glasses of wine/Leave a light on, baby, when I go/I
ain’t coming home before the dawn.” This track also includes a wonderful instrumental
section. Then the instrumental section at the beginning of “New Moon” creates an
interesting atmosphere, containing a bit of mystery. It is hesitant at first,
but then has an interesting build before settling into a more familiar
bluegrass groove. “Not knowing what was
waiting in the misty morning dew.” There is a sense of danger, something
out in nature, a shadow following him. “What
a grave mistake I made/To be out here in the dark.” Nature plays a part in
“It’s Just Rain” as well, this one featuring some nice harmonies. And check out
these lines: “Trying to hold this thing
together/I’m swearing off the weather and regrets/It’s a life just like any
other one, I guess/Oh, it rolls and it rolls and explodes and makes a mess/Sing
it straight from the heart, it ain’t over yet.” The album concludes with “Like November,” which
has a beautiful, kind of adorable beginning. Then Anya’s vocals come in to tell
us, “It looks like it’s all over.”
She gives a gorgeous and moving vocal performance. This is a powerful song,
probably the most effective track on the album, a song that will stay with you.
CD Track List
- Courage For The Morning
- Palisades
- Ballad Of Zona Abston
- Salsa
- Fill The Air
- West Of The Cumberlands
- New Moon
- It’s Just Rain
- Like November
Woven Waters was released on November 9, 2018 on Organic Records.
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