The Dreamlife of Angels

by

Sarah Masen

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ok. words to encompass 'the dreamlife of angels' for the sake of you who are teetering on the edge of purchasedom. it's an undertaking to word her and come close to what you wanted to say in the first place. but. i try for the sake of the music. and the spirit behind the music. the songs are the kind that make you want to love your family more, to notice more, to do whatever it is you love to do...more. sarah is quiet without being weak, strong without being too aggressive. sarah's songs on dreamlife float and speak hope. for those of you bored by the homogenous world of pop music, (ccm? britney?) welcome home! this cd is stripped of all possible pretense, and so you really get to hear sarah and the plethora of amazing musicians who play with her (as well as the perfect match of john jenning's careful production.)for fans of: good music, free of cliche. the folkish-music lovers (do you like the innocence mission? jane siberry? shawn colvin? etc?)will smile knowingly 15 seconds into their first listen. but. the rest of you out there who aren't sure whether to add this cd to your shopping cart will most definitely not be disappointed.

Though Sarah's voice and songwriting are still incredible, the production that Charlie Peacock brought to her self-titled CD and Carry Us Through is sorely missed. This CD harkens back to her indi release, The Holding, but without the innocence. It has a forced simplicity. Sarah's poetic songwriting needs more than the stark production here. The basic snare beat throughout most of the songs is reminiscent of a beginning 15 year old drummer, and the barreness of the production leaves one longing for something a bit more in line with her right-brain look at life.