Time Stands Still – Chris Smither | CD review

(Shock)

PERENNIAL United States troubadour Chris Smither continues to delight folk-blues fans with incisive lyrics and melodic hooks, underpinned by a monster finger-picking technique.

This album, although a shade below 2007’s dazzling Leave The Light On, is still impressive.

The 11 studio tracks were recorded over four days with producer-guitarist David Goodrich and percussionist Zak Trojano, following a European festival get-together.

To listen to previews of tracks from this album, press the play button

Smither’s deadpan description of his themes is “essential … existential questions”.

Combine this with a blues roots sensibility and pared-to-the-bone syntax, and the great Mose Allison comes to mind.

Foremost among the eight originals are two delightful commentaries on the human condition – Surprise, Surprise and Call Yourself – and even the lilting I Don’t Know (written about, or perhaps for, his adopted daughter) teases our gray cells.

His covers include haunting renditions of Bob Dylan’s enigmatic It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry and Mark Knopfler’s British folk narrative, Madam Geneva’s.

Goodrich shares guitar duties on this CD, but for an example of Smither’s amazing abilities, check out his superb solo concert DVD One More Night (Shock) and his website www.smither.com

– Mike Daly

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