Carolyn Arends

Item: I Can Hear You
Author: Vanessa Crooks / Patty Masten

I Can Hear You

(1995)

Reviewed by Vanessa Crooks / Patty Masten

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Label Reunion RecordsThe LighthouseSeptember 1995

acoustic folk singer-songwriter

Carolyn Arends may hail from Vancouver, British Columbia, but she would certainly feel at home in New England. Here in New England, we are surrounded by quaint coffeehouses that have been the sounding board and growing ground for many of today's top folk performers. Renowned venues like Passim's in Boston and The Iron Horse in North Hampton have fostered the likes of Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith, Suzanne Vega, David Wilcox, Luka Bloom, and Brooks Williams, to name just a few. The artistry of Carolyn Arends' debut, I Can Hear You, places her squarely among the ranks of these folk luminaries and gives us as fine a female singer-songwriter as we have heard.

Conveying her thoughts through story songs, Arends' writing style is filled with insights gleaned from both intent reading and intense living. With a degree in psychology and rich and diverse life experiences, Arends draws from a well of perception and understanding. Her wisdom and insight are similar to that of Rich Mullins and Wes King; but the evocative and intimate nature of her lyrics is more akin to Amy Grant and Julie Miller. Indeed, I Can Hear You, is food for the heart and head, as well as for the ears.

Arends credits Malcom Muggeridge for the life philosophy she illuminates on I Can Hear You: "every happening-great and small-is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message." "This Is The Stuff" finds Arends using her best Shawn Colvin guitar accent and vocal phraseology to share that

The smallest moments I need to notice ...Love and heartache and in-between This is the stuff Life is made of

Using vignettes of three very different lives: a genius author, who goes unrecognized by the world; a missionary doctor who perplexes the "cynics back home," and an alcoholic who allows life to pass him by, "Seize The Day" illustrates the fleeting nature of our time here on earth.

Everyone gets a dream They can follow or squander ...Seize the day Seize whatever you can Cause life slips away Just like hourglass sand.

The title track, "I Can Hear You" points out all the often unnoticed things-birds, church bells, the laughter of children-that God uses to communicate with us.

In the rhythm of life Somehow You let me know If I'll only stop to listen You're in everything."

At the helm of I Can Hear You is acclaimed producer Brown Bannister (he has produced many of Amy Grant's projects), who imparts just the right combination of layered, acoustic-groove rompers ("What I Wouldn't Give" and "The Power Of Love") and stark, heart-felt ballads ("All is Well" and "Reaching"). Acoustic guitar, piano, and folk/pop sensibilities form the backdrop for the album. Bannister flawlessly blends mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, accordion, and other "country" instruments to create a homey, textured feel. At times, he also combines some unique percussion and rhythm sections which provide a funky, world beat sound. Also lending their considerable talents to I Can Hear You are Rich Mullins (with whom she'll tour this fall), Gordon Kennedy (Whiteheart, Susan Ashton, Garth Brooks), Tommy Sims (Whiteheart, Bruce Springsteen), and Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, James Taylor).

Carolyn Arends is a rare find-she is an exceptional singer/songwriter who produces bright acoustic, pop music. Bright in all senses of the word-shiny, up-beat, inspiring music; intelligent, intimate, thought-provoking lyrics. Couching her message in simple, yet profound, language, Arends offers important exhortation to get to the "business of living," to look for traces of the eternal in the day-to-day. I Can Hear You is worth seeking out.