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Rose Moore You Will Fly Review by Jamison Mahto
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, I first met Rose Moore (Cherokee/African-American/Irish American) when she and I were both attending Guitar Tech Institute in Minneapolis to learn some music theory and guitar technique trying to hone our skills and give our music careers a boost.
Performing at WOMAD in 2004, she met London-based producer Nick Hogarth, who lives in London is the second co-producer, he provided song arrangements and backing tracks.
His creative use of world rhythm and keen pop sensibilities steered her songwriting in a more expansive direction leading to collaboration with Barcelona-based music producer Marcel Graell of Nowhere Studios
Rose’s website categorizes her sound as “Pop/Rock/Folk Rock however upon giving “You Will Fly” a close listen you will recognize right away that there is much more going on here. She is a true and honest representation of the genre “World Music” given the nature of her ethnic background and the diversity of influences reflected in her work. If you would like to learn how to paint pictures with sound then you need to hear this CD.
In the first trac All I Want Is This the lyrics speak for themselves as Rose sings, “A peaceful nature, serene countenance, Wisdom of the ages, limbs that dance, Capable of weighing risk and chance, Open to the charms of happenstance.” Sung with a voice that is tinged with a little taste of grief over come and quiet reflective sadness of distance traveled.
The trac River of Love begins with a vocable chant and a smokin’ tribal rhythm backing up a powerful, sweetly beautiful vocal and a lyrical sentiment that we all should listen to and learn. “If you believe in love, love will believe in you.” The style of the background guitar work on River of Love might sound familiar as it was played by Dominic Miller, Sting's guitarist. Also, on background vocals is Gregg Koffi Brown of Osibisa fame.
The title song You Will Fly states most emphatically that you must “Take the step dare to be all you want to be, don’t look back, straight ahead let your heart be free.” There’s that brilliant guitar behind Rosie’s vocal again. I think Rose has taken her own advice.
Allow me to state the obvious. The song Coming Home To You is a song about being away from your loved one. This song features some very sweet acoustic guitar licks and the lyrical sentiment seems to point at how every thing that you experience sends you back to the one you love. Les Davidson, a session player in London, plays the acoustic background arpeggio.
The song I Just Want Your Love is a very, very hot world/pop sound with a great hook. This song about falling in love with the wrong person despite all of the warning signs is imminently danceable. Or maybe its about desiring the danger and risk of it over your own common sense? There’s that brilliant guitar solo again and it just scorches your subconscious after Rose breaks it down. They fade out jamming. Cool.
Refugee is another highlight that features a Tabla drum and a Middle Eastern sound with a lyrical sentiment that addresses the current international crisis. This song shows us that Rose is not just a pretty face that enjoys dancing and sensuality but that she has intellect and awareness of her world. This is the stuff of which art is made. The lead solo at the end of the song is played by Les Davidson and again features Gregg Koffi Brown on back ground vocals.
Isabel of the Mountain Lake opens with a vocable harmony chant, unusual and interesting, you are immeidiately set up for another beautiful dance groove. The song tells the story of a woman who creates music from the serenity she experiences while sitting by the Mountain Lake. This a really beautiful combination of very diverse song elements.
All of the songs have beautifully intricate arrangements like lace in sound. Exceptional lyrically, vocally passionate and instrumentally like the sunrise over the Rockies in the spring, I have followed Rosie’s career ever since her early days and having heard most of her other work, I can safely say that her lush, layered, beautiful world music sound is the most mature I’ve heard in some time, not just from her but from anyone any where.
Here is a woman who is looking down from the mountain of challenges accepted, of dreams realized into the lush green valley of joyous cacophonous hope that lies in colorful bloom just on the other side and it is full of sound scapes and dance, sensuality and romance, spirituality and peace. Ahhh, life is good. Rose you done us proud Keep up the good work.
