Sarah Morris – Say Yes
This set is woven with threads of heartwarming music (“Never Be The Same”) & vividly demonstrated moments of expressive words infused with warm womanly tones. By the coda, the song unleashes on weightier ground, showing Sarah Morris’ tight grip on her material. Quite an impressive performance.
The Minneapolis-based award-winning Sarah (vocals/guitar/piano) explores love’s complexities & uncertainties through graceful music & lyrics – in a patchwork of emotional tales with a voice that drifts between the whispers of Sarah McLachlan & the more rootsy tonalities of Shawn Colvin, Beth Nielsen-Chapin & Mary Chapin-Carpenter.
Each of Sarah’s 10 pieces was produced by Dave Mehling (piano/organ/accordion/pedal steel & synth guitar/percussion/vocals) & recorded in MN. Say Yes (Drops Oct 10/Independent/42:09) is an innovative & intimate repertoire & there’s little here that’s biting, challenging or edgy. Instead, Ms. Morris chooses themes that depend on clarity of subject, beauty of music & voices through exceptional arrangements. She sings in a clear voice with wonderful intonation, phrasing & color. Much the same as k.d. lang often does.
“Glow” is marvelously optimistic & empowering. “Hard On a Heart” has mainstream commercial potential. But Sarah Morris may be too smart, too accomplished & clever to appeal to a juvenile audience. These songs hinge on the minds of those who have lived a little, had their hearts broken, slept with disappointments, frustrations & are still healing. If ever. The tune “Hard On a Heart” even has a Euro-flavored melody — quite attractive. “Glow” is stunning.
On songs like “Love,” Sarah’s breathy, intimate voice drifts right into your ear, personal, up close & enticing. The backup vocals are ethereal & effectively create the mood & atmosphere. There are moments of Jane Siberry’s mystical traits, but not surreal. More commercially styled with a ‘60s pop singer appeal is “The One I Choose,” which could’ve been sung by Leslie Gore, Jackie DeShannon, or Dusty Springfield. A cool song. Wonderful singing.
While some songs have a dreamy quality, Sarah never devolves into a blur; she’s focused throughout. Her songs are well laid out & the music flirts with memories, attracting the ear like a porch light tempts moths. “Houston” is one of these. A peanut buttery song with little infusions that put an emphasis on melodic appeal & succeed. This lady knows what she’s doing. She’s not signed to a major record label yet. Give me a break. A&R people must be asleep at the wheel. Go listen to “Glow” again & tell me I’m wrong.
Highlights – “Glow,” “Hard On a Heart,” “Never Be The Same,” “Love,” “The One I Choose,” “Houston” & “Yeah, Yeah.”
Musicians – Haley E. Rydell (violin/harmony), Nick Salisbury (upright & electric bass), Lars-Erik Larson (drums/percussion/acoustic guitar/accordion), Thomas Nordlund (additional guitars), & Holly Hansen (vocals/engineering).
Album artwork courtesy of Aaron Stottlemyer. Color image courtesy of Sammie Jean Cohen. CD @ Bandcamp & https://sarahmorrismusic.com/say-yes/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Sarah Morris “Here’s To You”
