New Mexico’s Serene State of Song
New Mexico is known for many things — beautiful vistas, a diverse culture and a rich history and tradition. Now it can add a new claim to that list of attributes, a musical resident by name of Cali Shaw. While some refer to him as simply a folk musician, Shaw’s musical tapestry goes far beyond the usual forlorn ramblings borne by even the most fanciful troubadour. His songs are richly arranged and constructed, and while some of the material on his sophomore set, obliquely titled Under the Olive Tree, are seemingly subdued, other tracks boast a playful prance that elevates the mood overall. The best offerings of the set, “Hold On To You,” “Dandelion Wine,” “Same Same” and “Small Place Big World” in particular, are so light, lithe and chipper that they practically beg a sing-along. However even the more meditative pieces like the title tune, “Better Now” and “Arrows” reflect a kind of meditative musing that quickly gets under the skin and then lingers in the brain long after. Not everything here is as instantly memorable; indeed, some songs take a concerted listen to fully appreciate. However, his wistful take on “Over the Rainbow” caps things off nicely. Still, with only nine songs in total, it’s also clear that Shaw has enough original ideas to carry the effort entirely. What a lovely discovery this is.