The Call

Rebecca Lomnicky ~ website: http://rebeccalomnicky.com/

Sorry for the delayed comment, but I needed to try to give this a long and fair listen, including putting some time between the first few listens and subsequent ones. Why? Well, I really didn’t like what I heard, initially, not the dance tunes, the bulk of what’s featured on this recording. To try to achieve some balance, I do enjoy how she manages the slower pieces, these touched the emotions, and there were a few things that raised a smile. So, yes, there was enjoyment to be had. However, the dance music, initially and on repeat listens, doesn’t move me or my feet. The first impression that came to mind was ‘plodding’, and that just seems unfair when this person is clearly talented, and when she slowed down for an air this was so evident, and sweet listening. But, with the dance tunes, there’s no real lift, they seem, to me, to be the equivalent of a by-the-numbers paint set, but with music. I’m not feeling the dance in them. Yes, the hint of it is there, but as if smothered under a heavy sound deadening duvet… The initial want was to blame the techies, but then she welcomes me into those airs and I know it can’t be completely a production fault.

A friend, the one who was kind to have given this to me as a gift, asked what I thought was missing when hesitation was the first response to their asking “What do you think?” I hesitated again, and then responded that I heard the talent and I enjoyed it, but ~ … My first reaction was that she needs to learn something about the ‘dirt’ that Cape Breton musicians, and dancers, know and appreciate, that cut and slice and rawness. Her airs are sweet, her tone is sweet, but the bulk of this is dance tunes and they just do not dance, not for me, they are too much of a sameness, as if, and the reason why I wondered if it was a sound jockey’s meddling, they all seem ‘compressed’. This was her first recording, and, if she doesn’t take this music for granted, and herself, and think she’s got it licked, there is clear promise demonstrated here, and time and experience might just hone the edge of her bow and sharpen her hearing and understanding…

There’s nothing wrong with being a good air player, something that in itself requires much. There are some fine dance musicians who haven’t managed to do a good job to those very intimate and emotional slow pieces, which she’s done a fine job with on this her first recording…