Christopher Williams The Silence in Between CW7002
Anthems of self-discovery are, in large part, a singer/songwriter's stock-in-trade. After looking inward
and putting words to paper, matching it to a melody, then (usually) wringing musical notes out of a guitar,
the time arrives to show people what you've learned. It helps to have a well-honed set of skills to get the
message across and it's hard to imagine anyone more well-prepared than Christopher Williams.
With a sweet, burr-edged singing voice and a seemingly innate melodic sense, his songs already have a leg
up on listenability. In addition,, he's contributed as a percussionist with Ellis Paul, and The Folk Monty /
The Bixbys (here as a full member/singer/songwriter), so his upbeat songs percolate with an effervescent
energy.
And, oh yes, the writing. On track two, "Each Other's Blessing," one of the better lines in a declaration of
romantic love I've heard recently occurs right up front. "I am the bread, you are the wine / We were meant
to be broken
" The lines that follow "to share our lives like fruit from the vine / with these words that
we've spoken," seem a bit more commonplace, but the entire effort really flys on the strength of a soaring melody.
Track three, "Breathe" is reminiscent, especially in the chorus, of some of James Taylor's better work,
but I find it more satisfying than anything I've heard from James lately. As a statement of aloneness and
the self-questioning it provokes, the song is sheer perfection. It begins, "Wrapped in the loneliness of pretending
to be strong / words comfort as much as a winter's day is long
"
Christopher sees that everything he thought he knew has "suddenly fallen out of view." The slow, deliberate
meter of the verse leads us up to the words: "I heard a voice say," right into the steady heartbeat of a riveting
chorus: "Walk to the water rest on the shore / let my love spill into yours / walk on the water fall on your knees
/ quench your restless soul by the water
and breathe." This song boasts contributions from Willy Porter on
acoustic guitar and from David Wilcox on background vocals. On other tracks contributing "name" musicians
include: Ellis Paul (("Empty My Hands") and David Hidalgo (of Los Lobos--"Every Time I Say Goodbye")
while Jerry Marotta plays drums and Michael Manring plays fretless bass throughout.
One of the more ambitious statements in the arena of romance occurs in the song, "Ever After."
In a response to an old flame who is getting married to another, and has asked him to attend her wedding,
Chris wonders: "Am I wrong to love you / Am I wrong to think you felt the same / Am I wrong to think
you are the one / Not just the one who would get away" In a recent appearance in Manhattan, Chris stated
that this coming August, he would attend the wedding spoken of in the song! Has she heard the song?
Will he sing it there? Stay tuned!
This CD is a finely crafted piece of work. David Miner, the producer, also contributed electric and upright
bass himself and added viola cello and mandolin by others to marvelous effect throughout the album.
Website:www.christopherw.com
You can order CDs directly from Christopher by credit card. Call TOLL FREE 1.888.493.4246
If you prefer to pay by check, send $16 per CD (includes shipping) to:
Christopher Williams, P.O. Box 400572, Cambridge, MA 02140
Online: www.folkweb.com/christopherwilliams