Reviews
Guilio Sica Album review 09
Carrie Tree
The Kitchen Table
To those familiar with Carrie Tree’s music, her official album release, The Kitchen Table, may come as a surprise with the addition of such a variety of instruments and musicians to accompany her singular talents.
The first bar of the first song, Isabelle (a heart-warming song of solidarity from one woman to another) immediately reveals that the instrumentation weaved into Carrie’s beautiful singing will not act as mere passengers along for the ride.
Violin, cello, bassoon and oboe, along with less familiar instruments such as ocarina, udu, bodhran, do not so much complement her expressive and melodic voice as challenge it, drawing out yet more emotion to what are already deeply emotive songs.
Carrie has already produced these songs in a solo acoustic manner in a previous album, Suddenly Raining. But in producing The Kitchen Table, she has brought together musicians who she has come to know and trust and the result is an original creation that takes the songs contained in her previous album and takes them into new territory.
These musicians are blessed with the ability to tease out harmonic phrases, pulsating rhythms and angular and occasionally haunting melodies, without ever overshadowing the purity and passion of the singing.
The songs themselves need no introduction to those who have heard her play, apart, maybe, from the final song on the album, Serenity, whose lyrics sum up the general mood of the album and, possibly, Carrie’s philosophy of life.
Serenity is almost defiantly mystical, as Carrie speaks to her own soul, knowing it to be eternal, accepting its lessons: “Tell me, I’m listening this time”. It affirms her faith in her chosen path: I’ll wear my hope on my sleeve/it’s clearer there”.
And nowhere on the album is life’s truth better exemplified than in the line, “I learned lifetimes ago/I’m remembering to remember, to just surrender again…I’m back inside you/Serenity.”
The wisdom in that line (and the way Carrie sings it) conveys a simple yet profound message, that surrendering to the inevitable peaks and troughs of emotion is not resignation, but true strength and at the heart of what it is to be in harmony with life. To hear Carrie sing these words, is to feel the presence of the eternal soul that speaks inside all of us.
Those inspired by the magic of Carrie Tree will no doubt spread the message as far and as wide as possible. The yearning for a peaceful world, and the almost forgotten truth that music can reach hearts and be more effective in bringing a peaceful and loving world to fruition than ideology and politics can ever be, bares repeating again and again, as does this beautifully crafted album.
"Thankyou Carrie, bringing such beautiful songs to our souls! X"
"My very own Moonbeam, I'm so proud of you and your beautiful music, keep shining and smiling my lovely girl, guess who?"
"Sheer Ecstasy"
"When I listen to this music every cell in my body dances, and love flows from my heart like a river into an ocean. Thanks Carrie... I have waited 2 years for this album, and it was worth it! xxx"
"Ah! such a beautiful album from such a beautiful angel!thank you"
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"Beautiful, magical, a true joy and inspiration of light and bright Love X just a few words that come to mind when I think of you X So pleased to hear you shining through such amazing music X CONGRATULATIONS X thanks for being such a constant and true friend and so much more X Michael"
"I know I'll love it. SO I just bought it. Thanks Carrie."
"i saw you at the secret garden party.......a little birdie said stay and listen and I did.....i fell inlove with your words and mellow soulful harmonies....wish you all the sucess your derserve Carrie xx"
"I can't find the right words to describe the beauty of your music. All those soft and delicate sounds filter through my body and go straight to my heart... This is an inexplicably surreal feeling. Even when the song is over, I can still hear the music floating in the air. Well Carrie, you've created something magnificent. Best regards, MTheGreat"
"your music is a sanctuary for this world"
"Stay free like the tree like the mountain like the sea...Greetings from the south planet(Greece).Thanks for your belief.May the light shine bright...(Akos)"
"i am SO proud of you little Tree :) i know what a journey it has been for you and i recognize how hard you have worked to get this album released .. thankyou for the musical reflection and for our friendship :) see u on stage somewhere ;) xx green-i xx"
"a treasure for the world x x x welldone on keeping it yours x x love Jess"
"Hey Carrie,I just want you to know, that your music is really powerful - it's the first time, that I actually WAITED for someone to make an album, cause I loved the songs that I heard so much. For me "Never Said Goodbye" is already a classic, and "No tomorrow", "Early Morning Train Ride" and "Complete Faith" are great as well. Congratulations on your website, and love from... Poland"
"I was also brought to tears at Buddhafield, listening to your Better Next Time. A hauntingly beautiful song that really touched me. I love your style Carrie x"
"horray!"
"i love this web"
"Your Hallelujah at Buddha Fields this past weekend made me cry with teh power of its beauty . . . thank you"
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