Article published July 25, 2008
Spencer Lewis: Two albums, two approaches
By Art Edelstein Arts Correspondent
Spencer Lewis, who has made a successful musical career as a vocalist,
guitarist, new age fiddler, and songwriter, is passing a milestone in
2008 as this is his 20th year in the recording business. To celebrate
he's released two new CDs: "Drifter," a live performance from last
year's First Night Montpelier, and "Up on the Mountain," which includes
cello accompaniment to his guitar and violin work. In all, the Lewis
catalog now contains 19 CDs, a prodigious number for a musician whose
performance schedule is fairly slim and limited primarily to Vermont
and frequently only at craft fairs.
Lewis,
whose early work — more vocally driven and folk music inspired than in
later years when he has concentrated on instrumentals — has followed
his muse to a successful yet quiet career. He's probably sold more CDs
than most Vermont performers, but because he limits his performances,
few outside his dedicated fan base have heard him play live.
He
is probably best known for his many CDs featuring violin and guitar.
His style includes simple major-key melodies, which he records on
violin, overdubbing many tracks. His guitar becomes the rhythmic
underpinning for the music, but also plays an essential part in his
musical landscape. This approach gives Lewis' recordings a string
quartet feel.
Lewis' music has a lushness of sound, and also a
dreamy haziness. There are two ways to listen to this music: Through
speakers one hears the fullness of the recording, but with ear buds the
many separate tracks in each recording become evident. It's like
listening to the branches of a musical river merging.
"Up on the
Mountain" is such an album. The innovation here is the cello work of
Nathaniel Parke, whose contribution adds the lower range of string
sound previously missing from Lewis' work. Together the two musicians
achieve an aural balance that fills both speakers and ear buds with
attractive and soothing music.
Lewis' music has never been
beat-oriented. His is a mostly contemplative approach, great for
reading or studying to. His music is excellent as the musical course at
dinner or backdrop to yoga practice or a romantic encounter.
"Up
on the Mountain" adds an extra element to Lewis' oeuvre with the cello.
This album is gorgeously produced and recorded. This is music to calm
an uncalm world. The seven-track, 54-minute performance fits well
within the catalog of work he has produced in his two-decade career.
"The
Drifter" is a departure for Lewis. This is his only live album and it
shows him in a very different light. Here there is more emphasis on his
guitar playing and there are several vocals. The album was recorded in
Montpelier's Christ Church by Josh Neibling and is generally first rate.
Lewis'
Taylor guitar sounds a bit too electric for my taste, but there are
also a lot of guitar effects employed, especially reverb. The guitar
playing is very idiosyncratic. He has developed a set of guitar riffs
that define his sound, and once heard you know Lewis is playing. On
this CD he managed to keep the interest going by playing to
looped guitar tracks that he recorded only seconds earlier with his looping effect box as many of his
compositions require more than one instrument to fill in the otherwise
simplified compositional style.
Lewis is a very good singer and
his vocal style and guitar playing in the songs is basic folk with lots
of Woody Guthrie influence. We hear vocals on "Punch Line," "Stones of
Gilead" and "This Land Is Your Land."
Lewis doesn't say much on
stage but his singing and instrumental playing are very engaging. There
is sincerity in his voice that gives great authenticity to his songs.
Closing with the Guthrie opus seemed a fine way to end 2007 and usher
in 2008.
This CD will appeal to Lewis fans wanting an album with less studio time and more live Lewis.
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Letters - Recent and Archived
I have spoken to you before and told you how much my clients love your
music in my office. My practice is a counseling office, I see both
children and families. Mothers remember having given birth to your
music when they hear it in my waiting area.
The way my office is set up the music is just outside my therapy
office, where I meet with my clients, your music can be heard
throughout the session, especially during the silent reflective
monents. You music is healing.Keep making music, it speaks to people and heals them.
Your latest CD is perfect. I can not get enough of it.
Thank you so much for sharing your deep heart and talent with all of us. - L.M. - June of 2008
"Your music softens the boundaries of the soul."
"We purchased Gardener's Rain, and it is now a part of our lives. What a peaceful and calming recording. Our five year old told us it's what music in heaven sounds like."
"Well, it's official, I'm hooked. Your music is wonderful. For years I've searched for music that didn't become irritating after you have listened to it for a while. I must have played my Green Mountains tape 100 times, and I still love it."
"We've got Spencer Lewis' A Sense of Place and love it. It has added to the healing qualities of our acupuncture treatments. Our patients request it repeatedly."
"Your music is incredible...it speaks directly to the heart and soul and I take flight in it."
"Every day I play Lighter than Fancy, and I never get tired of it. I'm an artist, but also a busy mother. Whenever I play your CD, I want to drop the household chores and just paint, bake a pie, do something creative. Other times it makes me think of my children and how precious they are to me. Especially that "Reunion." How beautiful! The first time I heard it, I had to pick up my two-year-old and dance with her. I had tears in my eyes."
I think your music is magic.... It helps me to smile, slow down and to be a little kinder. It helps me to see the forest of my life without letting all those trees get in the way."
"My six month old daughter and I dance to your soft, sweet tunes before bed every evening... works like a charm!"
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