Last Forever: New and Old Songs out of the American Tradition

Last Forever: New and Old Songs out of the American Tradition

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Composer Dick Connette's conceptual vision stands at a crossroads between composed "serious" music and the wide horizons of American folk music. His subtitle, "New and Old Songs Out of the American Tradition," only partly describes their mysterious power, as Connette deconstructs and recombines elements of pre-industrial folk with subtle but inescapable post-atomic perceptions. His primary collaborator, vocalist Sonya Cohen, has a genetic claim to this humble miracle. Daughter of '60s folk warrior John Cohen, on a bloodline connecting her to the Seeger family, she sounds earthy, serene, unsentimentally connected to the moment yet always authentic as she interprets Connette's canny fusion of beautifully arranged vocal and instrumental evocations of Americana. From a chilling, brilliant new version of the stark "In the Pines" to Connette's masterful juxtaposition of deep holler and Bo Diddley on "Nursery Rhyme," Last Forever unreels vivid portraits of America's oldest soul music through settings that combine spinet, harmonium, hammer dulcimer, violin, guitar, banjo, and orchestration to haunting effect. Call it chamber folk if you must, but Last Forever transcends category. --Sam Sutherland

Last Forever: New and Old Songs out of the American Tradition,Sonya Cohen,Nonesuch,Folk,Folk & Traditional,Pop,Popular Music,Traditional Folk

Average customer rating:

Great "Chamber Folk" CD

Make It Stop! It Feels Like It's Going To Last Forever!

Effervescent Folk

When it's good, it's good, but...

Stirring, simple, complex

Last Forever: New and Old Songs out of the American Tradition
Sonya Cohen
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Trainfare Home

ASIN: B000005J4M
Release Date: 1997-06-24

Tracks:

The Prodigal's Return
Jeanine's Dream
Hide And Seek
Nursery Rhyme
In The Pines
Dillard Chandler
Wonder Of The World
Ain't Going Down To The Well No More/Poor Lazarus
Indian War Whoop
Wild Goose
Who'll Water My Flowers?
The Nightingale's Song

Amazon.com

Composer Dick Connette's conceptual vision stands at a crossroads between composed "serious" music and the wide horizons of American folk music. His subtitle, "New and Old Songs Out of the American Tradition," only partly describes their mysterious power, as Connette deconstructs and recombines elements of pre-industrial folk with subtle but inescapable post-atomic perceptions. His primary collaborator, vocalist Sonya Cohen, has a genetic claim to this humble miracle. Daughter of '60s folk warrior John Cohen, on a bloodline connecting her to the Seeger family, she sounds earthy, serene, unsentimentally connected to the moment yet always authentic as she interprets Connette's canny fusion of beautifully arranged vocal and instrumental evocations of Americana. From a chilling, brilliant new version of the stark "In the Pines" to Connette's masterful juxtaposition of deep holler and Bo Diddley on "Nursery Rhyme," Last Forever unreels vivid portraits of America's oldest soul music through settings that combine spinet, harmonium, hammer dulcimer, violin, guitar, banjo, and orchestration to haunting effect. Call it chamber folk if you must, but Last Forever transcends category. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

Great "Chamber Folk" CD.......2006-11-13

Wonderful CD. Mergers violins, clavinet and the wonderful voice of Sonya Cohen with interesting lyrics and enjoyable arrangments. Not for someone looking to 'rock out', but great for a quiet, thoughtful time.

Make It Stop! It Feels Like It's Going To Last Forever!.......2006-02-12

Committing suicide may be thought of as the ultimate piece of performance art, and, as such, calls for fastidious attention to appropriately theatrical detail. Place, time of year, wardrobe are all important, and music should not be overlooked. If you're considering this most significant of all human options, you couldn't find a better soundtrack for it than this CD. Make sure to leave your player in the "repeat" mode to ensure that the people who find you absorb the full impact. When they hear what you've been listening to, they'll fully understand the depth of your despair and conclude that, at least in your case, it's probably better this way. The thought of music like this Lasting Forever would cause Mary Poppins to speculate that perhaps, all things considered, maybe life really is a bit longer than it needs to be.

Effervescent Folk.......2005-09-04

An amazing production of folk music by Dick and Sonya. I heard selections from this album a few years back and was left wanting more, desperately. What a lovely voice, Sonya Cohen.

When it's good, it's good, but..........2002-03-07

...unfortunately, most of the songs are kind of run-of-the-mill and hard to endure. That much said, it has a beautiful rendition of "In the Pines" that's a must-listen.

Stirring, simple, complex.......2001-01-31

The melodies of this album, the tones and voice of the vocalist, the strange simple lyrics from a time and place far away... haunting is the word that comes first to mind, but only in that the songs stay with you, seem to resonate with a recessive musical gene that America harbors but has almost forgotten. This is my favorite of the Last Forever albums, but perhaps because I heard it first. If you haven't given Dick & Sonya's sounds multiple listens, I suggest you give it a try.

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