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Singer/songwriter brings her music back to Triangle
February 29th, 2008
by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan - The Herald-Sun
DURHAM -- Carrie Newcomer performed in Durham two years ago and tried out a few new songs she was working on. "Don't Push Send" and "Leaves Don't Drop (They Just Let Go)" both made it onto her new album, "The Geography of Light." This reviewer went to that show, and even though I had not heard those songs since the concert, I immediately recognized them upon hearing this CD.
That's how it goes with Newcomer's music. It stays with you. She performs tonight at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
"Leaves Don't Drop (They Just Let Go)" may be the best song (this reviewer's favorite, anyway) on "The Geography of Light," a song about the circle of life. The singer/songwriter's soothing voice and comforting musical accompaniment bring an element to the song that makes the listener sentimental about parents, children or just life itself. The chorus is, "Leaves don't drop, they just let go/and make a space for seeds to grow/and every season brings a change/a tree is what a seed contains/to die then live as life's refrain."
Newcomer has been described as a folk singer, but her music can't quite be confined to just one genre. During her last tour stop locally, she said her music's spiritual undercurrent put her in the folk category rather than pop, but that she gave the same show whether at a bar or a church. Profits from her 2006 Durham show at St. Philip's Episcopal Church went to Urban Ministries of Durham.
Newcomer, a Quaker, will donate 10 percent of this album's sales to The American Friends Service Committee. She supports several progressive issues, both spiritual and secular, like the environment, human rights, health, hunger relief and social service.
Her previous album, "Regulars and Refugees," expanded on her "Betty's Diner" album. "Regulars and Refugees" told the stories of people joined by coincidence in a diner. Newcomer often leads writing workshops as well as touring. "The Geography of Light" is described as an album about navigating and exploring the appearance of light and shadow in our lives. Songs like "Geodes" encourage listeners to look beyond outside appearances and look deeper inside. "There is a Tree" includes the lyrics "I am the fool whose life's been spent/between what's said and what is meant."
"One Woman and a Shovel" is a lively tune about never underestimating what a woman armed with a shovel can do. "When it's time to say enough and to set things right/the whole world's waist deep in trouble/never doubt or question the power of love of one woman with a shovel." "Don't Push Send" is a humorous, cautionary song about pushing send on e-mails before making sure they're going to the right place. The album includes Newcomer's own acoustic guitar, banjo and bouzouki playing, as well as several other musicians playing instruments such as drums, bass, piano, violin, viola, cello, ukulele, field organ, accordion, harmonica and English horn.
Newcomer fans will find that "The Geography of Light," like albums "The Gathering of Spirits" and "Regulars and Refugees," make them think about what she's saying just as much as enjoying her voice and the music. It's a pleasure.