A Delicate Touch Without Losing Power

An absolute gem by this Canadian that is a member of the much heralded Canadian group, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings (and if you haven’t heard them treat yourself).  He seems to be a permanent part of the Nashville scene now.  This disc shows off his tremendously versatile instrumental skills, (guitars, ukeleles, and mandolins), his vocal range with his just slightly roughened voice, and the production skills of his fellow Rotting Matadors and long time collaborators, John Dymond and Gary Craig.  Listen to the heartfelt delicacy with which he deals sadness and longing in Delia Come To Me. You can feel the ache and tender feelings that inhabit every fiber of the singers being.  The song absolutely takes you inside of it so you feel the love, longing, and desire that makes this song elicit such powerful emotions.  

The songs are the foundation for making this disc such a powerful one; they are what the instruments and vocals use as building blocks of emotion with which to relate to the listener.  There are 12 songs here and he wrote 7 of them by himself, the other 5 he collaborated with an assortment of people though most frequently with  his wife Janice Powers.  There is a strong emotional power in all the songs and yet they also display a non mawkish and yet powerfully sympathetic delicacy that tries to see a whole picture in a non-combative way.

As well as his long time Canadian friends, The Rotting Matadors he has some guests here that put some fantastic icing on this cake.  Charlie Musselwhite contributes some fierce harmonica on 2 cuts;  Amy Helm’s heartfelt harmonies on 3 cuts;  Reese Wynans piano/organ on 5 cuts;  and Tim Lauer organ on 2 cuts.  These additional musicians truly take this cake from a delicious creation, and make it into a masterpiece.  Each one of them adds the only the touches that are necessary and nothing extraneous.  This is disc is one of the true standouts of this year. 

by bob gottlieb

Colin Linden – Rich In Love (Stony Plain)