Charlotte Madeliene

Item: Back to Life
Author: Steve Timm

Back to Life

(1993)

Reviewed by Steve Timm

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Label Storyville RecordsThe LighthouseSeptember 1993

acoustic folk singer-songwriter

This album is one of the first releases on the new Storyville label. The whole label is devoted to religious folk music of various sorts. Charlotte Madeliene Mesimore (her full name) lives in Lisle, IL, and the album was recorded and produced locally, by David Bunker.

She lists Bob Bennett as one of her primary inspirations and, in fact there are many lyrical similarities; his album does much more reflecting than preaching. Writing most of the lyrics and music herself, the songs center around her experiences and recollections of her family and friends. "Irma" and "Charlie" tell about her mother and her late father, respectively. Both incorporate the Hungarian folk tunes of her heritage (her maiden name is Csakai.) The Hungarian touches add a delightful lift to the album-it's unfortunate there are not more of them. She writes "Dear One" for her grandmother, while "The Dresser" and "To My Friend" are dedicated to childhood friends.

The album is rounded out with "Treasure," talking about how God is the treasure in her heart. "He Took My Little" employs a chorus of children to sing about the story of Jesus blessing the loaves and fishes, and how he has done a similar thing for her. It's easily the catchiest tune on the album. "Back To Life," the title cut, calls us all to recognize the power of God to call us back to life. The album ends with an instrumental, "4:15 am," which is well-conceived and executed.

Musically, her voice is quite pleasing to listen to. She is backed up by a competent but intentionally subdued studio band. Rich Mullins makes a guest appearance on the hammered dulcimer. One should not expect to be able to get down in the groove to this music, nor should one expect to get hit with anointing from the first chord. But the artists and producers have created a competent and enjoyable folk album, which is what they set out to do. And in sharing the message of Christ through stories, Charlotte is following in a tradition as old as Christ himself.