''Strange Conversation'' is an album by
singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst
Kris Delmhorst is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Originally from Brooklyn, New York City, United States, she now lives in Western Massachusetts, is an active member of the Boston folk scene, and tours internationally. She has re ...
, released in 2006.
History
Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Delmhorst takes on setting some works of famous poets to music along with her own original compositions. The lead off track is named after Italian composer
Baldassare Galuppi. Inspired by and quoting heavily from the
Robert Browning
Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian literature, Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentar ...
poem
A Toccata of Galuppi's, Delmhorst reflects on the composers times and style:
"And the minor third so bitter, the six chord like a sigh,
suspension, solution, asking must we die, must we die must we die?
And the seventh says well fellas, life might not last, but we can try…"
''Strange Conversations'' was recorded at the same time as Delmhorst's follow up CD, ''
Shotgun Singer
''Shotgun Singer'' is an album by American singer/songwriter Kris Delmhorst, released in 2008.
History
Delmhorst recorded ''Shotgun Singer'' in a rural cabin with minimal recording gear by herself. Once completed, she brought in various playe ...
''.
Reception
Critic Joe Viglione of
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
called ''Strange Conversation'' "an impressive and ambitious work that is evidence of the sophistication enveloping the Kris Delmhorst catalog and one hopes that these important musings get noticed beyond the cult that realizes something very special is happening here."
Track listing
All songs by Kris Delmhorst unless noted.
#"Galuppi Baldassare" – 4:15
#"
We'll Go No More A-Roving" (
Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...
, Delmhorst) – 3:04
#"Light of the Light" – 4:34
#"Since You Went Away" (Delmhorst,
James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871June 26, 1938) was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was married to civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson. Johnson was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ...
, Olson) – 3:06
#"Strange Conversation" – 3:36
#"The Drop & The Dream" – 3:04
#"Invisible Choir" – 3:44
#"Pretty How Town" (
e. e. cummings, Delmhorst) – 1:57
#"Tavern" (Delmhorst,
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay (February 22, 1892 – October 19, 1950) was an American lyric poetry, lyrical poet and playwright. Millay was a renowned social figure and noted Feminism, feminist in New York City during the Roaring Twenties and beyond. ...
) – 3:42
#"Water, Water" – 2:40
#"Sea Fever" (Delmhorst,
John Masefield
John Edward Masefield (; 1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967) was an English poet and writer. He was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967, during which time he lived at Burcot, Oxfordshire, near Abingdon ...
) – 3:43
#"Everything Is Music" – 3:55
Personnel
*Kris Delmhorst – vocals, acoustic guitar, fiddle, piano, cello, background vocals
*Kevin Barry – electric and acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, piano, background vocals
*Mark Chenevert – clarinet, tenor sax
*Lorne Entress – drums, percussion, background vocals
*Dave Harris – trombone, tuba
*Paul Kochanski – double bass, background vocals
*Mike Peipman – trumpet
*Chris Rival – organ
*Tom West – Hammond organ
Production
* Produced by Kris Delmhorst
* Engineered and mixed by Chris Rival
* Mastered by Dave McNair
* Photography by Megan Summers
*Translation by Coleman Barks
*Artwork and design by Brian Turner
References
External links
Official Kris Delmhorst websiteSignature Sounds Recordings
{{Authority control
2006 albums
Kris Delmhorst albums