Throughout the 1990s, I was only marginally aware of singer-songwriter Peter Himmelman and his work. Having been a fan of guitar-slinging singer-songwriters, he was simply one of many doing his thing on a consistent basis. I was trying to keep up with guys like Michael Penn and Bruce Cockburn and Christine Lavin. Well, with this new collection, Mission of My Soul: The Best of Peter Himmelman, I finally have a chance to see what I was missing during the late '80s and into the Clinton era.
Minnesota native Himmelman is a dynamic storyteller and terrific guitar player with a knack for turning a phrase or simply making you think. The songs featured here, selected for release by the eclectic Shout! Factory label, have been culled from Himmelman's 10-or-so solo albums. Kicking off the collection is the jangly guitar-pop "Beneath The Damage and the Dust" which brings to mind Elvis Costello just a wee bit. Against that bouncy tune is a rather serious song about a mentally ill woman Himmelman used to see on a weekly basis near his California home. Recorded in 1992, it captures that socially-conscious vibe that was really peaking at the time, when R.E.M. and 10,000 Maniacs and Midnight Oil were spreading their messages. Nice flourishes of harmonica and organ can be heard here, but the strongest element is the undeniable compassion in Himmelman's voice, his desire to pull this woman out of the gutter and make her new. Pretty powerful.
Himmelman's ability to craft a delicious pop song is evident on "With You," a song originally released on his 1994 album Skin. It could've easily fit on a Crowded House record. "Eleventh Confession," with its late '80s-styled synth-and-world-beat-bass production sounds a little dated but Himmelman is confident and vulnerable at the same time. "Imperfect World" is about the wonder of life and the powerful feeling that results from loss. And then there is the tender folk ballad "Raina," about his daughter, that brings to mind Randy Stonehill in a quieter and more reflective moment. Two people not quite understanding one another's essence - their "name," in the Jewish mystical tradition - is the subject of this melancholy track.
Some of the songs don't quite work. "I Feel Young Today" sounds a bit forced and "Time Just Flew" sounds a bit dated.
But despite that, you hear a song like the driving "Woman With the Strength of 10,000 Men" or the jazzy pop of "245 Days" which could have been an outtake from Don Henley's The End of the Innocence album from 1989 - the same year this song was released, interestingly enough.
Some of Himmelman's live material is featured here, including "Always In Disguise" and the strummy sing-along "Closer."
Himmelman comes across as a very thoughtful and spiritual person who has found his muse through his music. If you want to find out more about Himmelman, Mission of My Soul is a good place to start.
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