Diane Birch, Goddess
Diane Birch wowed me beyond belief with her first album, Bible Belt. An incredible ear worm of an album that distilled Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, and Carole King, yet was uniquely individual, too. Classic songwriting.
I had the opportunity to see her on tour for that album and I was totally enchanted. I even got to chat with her in the bathroom and tell her how much she evoked my beloved Laura Nyro.
Everyone I introduced her music to became a fan.
Her next album wasn't one--it was an ep of covers, none of which I recognized. Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxie and the Banshees. I'm a lot older and a lot less cool than Ms. Birch. The ep was not remotely like Bible Belt and I am not particularly musically adventurous. I have breadth and depth, but there are places I simply choose not to go. However, I had become a paying member of the Church of Birch (her term) and with each listen, I liked it more and more.
But I really really wanted her to go back to the Bible Belt. Retread that water of life, baby. I find it so rejuvenating, healing, I want more, more, more of that elixir.
But.
Diane Birch does not retread. (Or Rewind.)
Her next album, Speak a Little Louder, was a return to Birch originals, but it was even more ambient, even more distant a part of the water for me to tread (let alone swim). Fortunately, I had seen her in concert at a residency at Joe's Pub, so I not only sort-of knew what to expect, but one of the new songs, "Pretty in Pain" had hooked me with its catchy hooks and girl group feel atop the ambiance. But the album was even more of a stretch for me. However, when I am truly committed to an artist, I figure I'm the one who needs to do some heavy listening before walking away, and Speak a Little Louder grew on me despite some of the discofied arrangements that I initially found trying. The lyrics are so brilliant and inspiring--it's a truly beloved work now.
Another ep, Nous. I'm still adjusting, but by now, even I know that my limitations are not in my best musical interest. Play, play, play until I get it.
Birch recently announced two Stage-It shows for today (1/31/17). Stage-It allows artists to do live shows over the internet and get paid by fans. She has done them a few times before and Jeff and I always "attend."
Sweet Lord. What great shows. Diane played some amazing new songs, including one clearly inspired by what is going on in the US now (she went to JFK Airport and joined the protest of the Muslim ban, which yeah, makes me love her even more). Interestingly, the new songs faintly hew back to the Bible Belt era in song structure, but it's just one layer of the artist she has become. Her vocal style is more jazzy, more mannered, particularly on the older numbers.
Even live, she is constantly in the act of re-creation, like Neil Young.
She also covered Lennon's Imagine at both shows. Her piano work is so effortless, so soulful, so evocative.
She also revisited a lot of songs from Bible Belt, including Rise Up, which is now my anthem for the year.
She's a genius that I love enough to stretch for, and I can't wait til her new album is released. I plan to do some touring with her.
All Birch elixir is good elixir.
I had the opportunity to see her on tour for that album and I was totally enchanted. I even got to chat with her in the bathroom and tell her how much she evoked my beloved Laura Nyro.
Everyone I introduced her music to became a fan.
Her next album wasn't one--it was an ep of covers, none of which I recognized. Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxie and the Banshees. I'm a lot older and a lot less cool than Ms. Birch. The ep was not remotely like Bible Belt and I am not particularly musically adventurous. I have breadth and depth, but there are places I simply choose not to go. However, I had become a paying member of the Church of Birch (her term) and with each listen, I liked it more and more.
But I really really wanted her to go back to the Bible Belt. Retread that water of life, baby. I find it so rejuvenating, healing, I want more, more, more of that elixir.
But.
Diane Birch does not retread. (Or Rewind.)
Her next album, Speak a Little Louder, was a return to Birch originals, but it was even more ambient, even more distant a part of the water for me to tread (let alone swim). Fortunately, I had seen her in concert at a residency at Joe's Pub, so I not only sort-of knew what to expect, but one of the new songs, "Pretty in Pain" had hooked me with its catchy hooks and girl group feel atop the ambiance. But the album was even more of a stretch for me. However, when I am truly committed to an artist, I figure I'm the one who needs to do some heavy listening before walking away, and Speak a Little Louder grew on me despite some of the discofied arrangements that I initially found trying. The lyrics are so brilliant and inspiring--it's a truly beloved work now.
Another ep, Nous. I'm still adjusting, but by now, even I know that my limitations are not in my best musical interest. Play, play, play until I get it.
Birch recently announced two Stage-It shows for today (1/31/17). Stage-It allows artists to do live shows over the internet and get paid by fans. She has done them a few times before and Jeff and I always "attend."
Sweet Lord. What great shows. Diane played some amazing new songs, including one clearly inspired by what is going on in the US now (she went to JFK Airport and joined the protest of the Muslim ban, which yeah, makes me love her even more). Interestingly, the new songs faintly hew back to the Bible Belt era in song structure, but it's just one layer of the artist she has become. Her vocal style is more jazzy, more mannered, particularly on the older numbers.
Even live, she is constantly in the act of re-creation, like Neil Young.
She also covered Lennon's Imagine at both shows. Her piano work is so effortless, so soulful, so evocative.
She also revisited a lot of songs from Bible Belt, including Rise Up, which is now my anthem for the year.
She's a genius that I love enough to stretch for, and I can't wait til her new album is released. I plan to do some touring with her.
All Birch elixir is good elixir.