The album opens with a track that is a question, “Does It Work For You?” This track’s cool, oddly funky vibe completely works for me. Its opening lines are “What we see, is it reality/Or is it really fantasy/Can you see spirit of reality/True in any matter.” And the album is off and running, into the strange realm that Jeff Cotton invites us to join, a place that is earthly and spiritual, a place where there is humor and love. He reaches out to us, saying “Let’s agree, you and me.” And indeed, we do have to agree on some basic common reality, to reel us in from chaos, I suppose. The song leaves us with the question, “Does it work?” Then “It Never Ceases To Blow My Mind” has a sweeter vibe as it begins, and has a positive, optimistic bent. “It’s time we recognize the call/The pride of ages is for all/Not for a few, the offer stands/The call goes forth to every land/As we realize life’s flow.” That’s followed by “Ivy,” a rather pretty and contemplative guitar instrumental track that makes good use of pauses.
“Green Bamboo” immediately has a playful and delightfully goofy energy, as if some serious psychedelics took over musical direction on the island. Don’t be surprised if you’re singing along before too long, for this song is unexpectedly catchy. Jeff Cotton turns to a back porch bluesy vibe on “Elvirus,” though not touching on any usual blues lyrics in this number. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Leaky spirits in our midst/Sneaky spirits throwin’ fits/Elviral contamination, hangin’ over us.” I’m not always certain just what’s going on, but I’m into this music, letting it take me where it wishes. “Elvirus” is followed by “This Gentle Earth,” which establishes a good groove at the start. “Inside betrayal, this is no way to live/Do you really think there’s any hope anywhere without love.” It always comes back to love, doesn’t it? And that should tell us something. This track features some excellent guitar work, particularly in that instrumental section toward the end. And speaking of love, that song is followed by one titled “Love Makes All Things New,” which celebrates the eternal wonder of love. “Darling, I’ve waited patiently/For this day to become reality/That which is lasting, real and sure/Is yours for the asking, first peaceable then pure.”
I’ve traveled all over this country, with just two states left to visit. One of those is Hawaii, and “Cruisin’ Hamakua” is about enjoying one area of the big island. It sounds so cool, so inviting. If I close my eyes while listening, I can imagine myself there, cruising the area too. As it begins, the song poses the question, “Will I be cruisin’ Hamakua twenty-nine years from now,” but the music itself seems to provide the answer, which is affirmative. Oh yes, one way or another. This is one of my personal favorite tracks, and it features some nice work on harmonica over a good groove, as well as some delicious guitar work. Jeff Cotton takes us into his own version of the world on this album, a trip I am thoroughly enjoying. Here are a couple of lines from “The Space Between Us All”: “When the space between us all becomes a bridge/Do we long for then to be true again.” Great lines, right? Yes, it’s an unusual song, but what he does so well is take the strange and make it feel like the norm, make it feel natural. That’s followed by “On The Thread,” a seriously cool instrumental track that takes us on its own journey, creating a world and telling us a story that takes place there. It contains some wonderful guitar work, has some funky elements, and is for me another of the disc’s highlights.
“Aloha” has an easygoing groove that immediately puts us in that sweet island mood. This is another of my personal favorites from this album. I love its mood, its sound. And this track features one of the album’s best vocal performances. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “Mountains teeming meadows/Greeting all but seeming to call your name/Whispered voices in the showers proclaim/There is nothing to compare/With your tender greetings, aloha.” Then “The Liberation Song” feels like it has a mission, the way it moves. It certainly does not have that relaxed vibe of the previous track. What I love most about this one is that instrumental section in the middle, particularly that guitar work. Jeff Cotton returns to a bluesy sound with “Heavy.” I could do without that sound effect making the track seem like an old record. I never care for that, for of course it always rings false, but I do like the guitar work. That’s followed by “The Season Of The Awakening,” which has a pleasant groove, and features some nice guitar work. Again we turn to love: “Awake to the chains that bind you/It is the season of the awakening/So let love’s gifts surround you.”
“Mother Earth Needs Healing” is a title that strikes us as true. It feels like not only does the planet need healing, but humanity does too. People have become uglier, haven’t they? Or perhaps they are just no longer hiding their worst qualities. I’m not sure. But, though it is difficult, love is most likely the answer, as Jeff Cotton sings here: “Love our brothers when you see them/Listen, forgive, love has freed men, oh.” The strong bass line of this song grounds us, and some pretty guitar work lifts us, helping make this track another of the disc’s highlights. It has a sudden ending, and is followed by “Together.” In this time of extreme division, this song aims to bring people together, as its title suggests. After all, we are here together whether we wish to be or not. “Our world has a choice/Our spirit a voice, we cherish loving/It improves living.” Yes, it’s a hopeful song. “More lives need lifting.”
“It Would Take An Angel” is an interesting song. It opens with the line, “It would take an angel,” then turns it to a question in the very next line, “Will it take an angel to fill our land with rest?” It seems like it will take something approaching the divine to bring peace to this planet. I try not to be pessimistic, but it seems that our species is just incapable of it, that many people just don’t want it, which is just bonkers to me. “The hand that strikes another, sheer folly comes on men/’Til man reflects his father, to war we’ll see no end.” The album concludes with “Clean In Nature’s Stream,” which also gets into the spiritual realm, finding a connection between it and the natural realm. “Would we learn from him/In truth he’s found within.” Approximately halfway through, we are treated to a strong lead on electric guitar. If you listen on headphones, it is predominantly in your left ear.
CD Track List
- Does It Work For You?
- It Never Ceases To Blow My Mind
- Ivy
- Green Bamboo
- He Made The Eagle
- Elvirus
- This Gentle Earth
- All Things New
- Cruisin’ Hamakua
- Together We Sail
- The Space Between Us All
- On The Thread
- Aloha
- The Liberation Song
- The Breeze Of Oblivion
- Heavy
- The Season Of The Awakening
- Mother Earth Needs Healing
- Together
- Hear The Word
- It Would Take An Angel
- Clean In Nature’s Stream
The Fantasy Of Reality was released on August 12, 2022 on Madfish Records. I hope there is more to come from Jeff Cotton soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment