by Jonathan Widran
A
multiple award winning, multi-talented musician, singer and
songwriter, Lis Addison’s divinely touched spirit has allowed her
to create music that shifts consciousness, moves energy and inspires
the passions of listeners. Circle of Light magazine had it right when
said that she “paves the way for a new genre of music”- which
incorporates chill, new/age healing music, ambient and soothing,
deeply rhythmic world fusion textures. Considering how emotionally
rich, contemporary and fresh the tracks of Crown In The Sky are,
it’s fascinating to realize that the songs initially took shape
decades ago as accompaniment to a performance piece about a
Matriarchy that lives in harmony with nature. Honoring and
celebrating the Divine Feminine, Mother Earth (Addison spells it as
“Urth”) and all her children, Addison lends her ethereal voice to
lushly-produced songs awash in easy grooves, dreamy atmospheres and
simple, anthem-like melodies.
Hearing
the whisper on the opening track “Voice Of The Tree,” she sings
of the spirit wrapping us in her arms and setting us free in a vocal
harmony filled realm that eases into light jazz/global music
territory. Addison mystically explores creation and birth on the
gently swaying, chill-ambience driven ballad “New World,” then on
“Look Into Your Eyes” asks deep questions about human isolation
and how to bridge the distance in a moody setting that is the musical
equivalent of a deep, liquefied forest. The singer enters more
dramatic territory on “Bring Her Light,” fronting a haunting
choir of Kamba women and children from Kenya (who she met on a recent
visit) as she dreamily reflects upon our dependence on the natural
elements of the earth and humanity’s unfortunate greed that could
ultimately anger Mother Nature. Delving deeper into our spiritual
connection to nature, “Hearts & Bones” enters trippy ambient
territory with the help of soaring chants and bubbling bass and
percussion textures. With the feeling of the earth guiding her
forward, Addison engages on the acoustic guitar on the light
folk/flamenco graces of “Turn To Gold,” which evolves into a
beautifully floating soundscape before moving back again towards a
more acoustic production.
Showing the depth of her musical palette, the singer employs a growing tree as a metaphor for all life in a setting that incorporates guitar, dulcimer and a classical-flavored Virtual String Quartet. Kit Walker’s dancing mandolin plays a key role on the upbeat, infectious “Carry Me,” which emerges as a playful folk dance singing praises to the Goddess of Creation. Addison wraps Crown in the Sky in beautiful fashion, expressing simple gratitude for the sustenance of earth and sun on “How Deep” and the gentle, easily rhythmic joyful praise and prayer moment dedicated to “Mother Gaia,” a lovely coda which asks for guidance from this time forward.
The musical-spiritual world of Lis Addison is transcendent and magical, reflecting deep connections between the earth and its people. It’s an intriguing journey like no other recording in any genre this year.
