W
ith this exceptional new collection (her 24th studio Elsewhere Joan
record!), Joan effectively completes a trilogy of albums continues to
ANA
with Steve Earle a link, which began with 2003’s Dark Chords champion the work
On A Big Guitar and continued with 2005’s live set Bowery of outstanding female
Songs. Day After Tomorrow was produced by Steve, who also songwriters: Diana
plays guitar and contributes harmony vocals. For this album Jones’ account of
he’s assembled a small dream-team of acoustic musicians from an American mining
Nashville’s A-list (multi-instrumentalists Tim O’Brien and Darrell disaster, Henry
Scott, bassist Viktor Krauss and drummer Kenny Malone), all Russell’s Last Words,
tremendously sympathetic musical collaborators. with eerily effective
Y AMERIC
Joan has always performed and recorded songs by
instrumentation
contemporary songwriters whose work resonates with her
including harmonium
own sensibilities, and the ten songs comprising Day After
and tambura, is
Tomorrow continues this practice. The set is bookended by
another disc highlight
two of Steve’s compositions: the opener God Is God, already
and Patty Griffin’s
familiar to fans from Joan’s concert sets, receives what is surely
religious allegory
COUNTR
its definitive performance here, whereas Jericho Road forms
Mary (with the help
a spirited though reflective a cappella
of Siobhan Kennedy’s
gospel-style closer. Tucked in the centre
harmonies) also
of the disc is Earle’s timeless-sounding,
captivates. We’re
Guthrie-esque I Am A Wanderer, following
also treated to a pair
a pair of songs sharing a war theme: the
of lovely songs by
stirring Elvis Costello/T-Bone Burnett Cold
Austin’s Eliza Gilkyson , the near-traditional-sounding gem Rose
Mountain anthem Scarlet Tide and the
Of Sharon and Requiem. After which, on Thea Gilmore’s The
emotionally charged Tom Waits-penned
Lower Road, Thea herself supplies the harmony vocal (repaying
title track, surely an album standout. Here
the favour granted by Joan when she duetted on Thea’s own
Joan’s own skilled and gently understated
recording of the song earlier this year). Needless to say, Joan is
guitar playing provides all the bare-
in excellent voice throughout, with today’s huskier tonal depth
Day After Tomorrow
bones accompaniment her powerful and
every bit as attractive as her trademark crystalline soprano. All
Proper Records
passionate delivery needs to get that
of which adds up to a very special record indeed.
PRPCD04
song’s message across. David Kidman
I
n the mid-1980’s, Art’s obsession with long-distance walking their distinctive aura; A new strength runs through The Sound
began with a three week hike across the rice paddies and of Silence and Scarborough Fair; A Poem on the Underground
back roads of Japan. By 1984, his walks across America became Wall and Homeward Bound sound fresh and timeless; Mrs.
a major part of his annual schedule. Having completed his Robinson, with altered lyrics, raises some enthusiastic crowd
walk across the United States in 1996, Disney released a reaction while Lennon & McCartney’s I Will charms in its
documentary-style video that chronicles Art’s 12-year walk as simplicity; The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy), April
well as a celebratory concert at the Registry Hall on Ellis Island, Come She Will and Goodnight, My Love close the proceedings
where Art’s ancestors had first stepped onto American soil. “My quietly.
goal,” says Art with Across America, “was to feel my connection
with America, one step at a time.”
The DVD intersperses the concert footage with Art’s travelogue
and philosophy, creating a fascinating insight into his motivation
For the first time Art Garfunkel’s epic Across America for this epic quest. There are great sweeping shots of the
performances are caught together American landscape, both rural and urban, that give subtle
in one live CD and DVD package, hints of the scale of the undertaking. There is also poignant
which includes the full album and footage, echoing the concert performance, of Art with James
filmed footage from the two-night Taylor singing Crying In The Rain sitting on the windy shore of
stint at the Registry Hall in April Ellis Island with the Manhattan skyline, complete with the Twin
1996. It features captivating, new Towers, as a backdrop.
live performances of Garfunkel
classics from his solo career and
What’s obvious from these performances, as well as Garfunkel’s
also his seminal combination with
command of song craft, is the sheer enjoyment he brings
Paul Simon.
to the material. He seems to revel in the narrative power
and emotional quality of these
The musical arrangements are fresh songs, emitting performances of a
and new while keeping the essence consistently high artistic level. Art
of the original tracks: Graham Lyle’s A Garfunkel has connected step by
Heart In New York still sounds tailor step with the American heartbeat
made for Garfunkel’s clear vocals and Across America shows a master
while All I Know and Mike Batt’s communicator at work.
classic Bright Eyes still retain

John O’Regan
Art Garfunkel
Across America
Proper Records
PRPCD04
4 Properganda 0
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