Songs of Water

A musical fantasia, Songs of Water is an exuberant collection of songs built upon one central theme - the unique mixture of hydrogen and oxygen that is water. "Long Journey Home" uses the resonant rhythms of a hammered dulcimer as an anchor for the rest of the piece, interspersed with violin and percussion in a manner reminiscent of Celtic reels and of sea chanties. "Come to the Well" fuses Celtic elements with a hint of the Greek rembetika, the bluesy bouzouki melodic style that redefined 20th-century Greek music, in a pleasing, though slightly melancholy fashion. The drum, violin, and guitar fuse perfectly with dulcimer in the Middle Eastern-inspired "In Places Forgotten" and "Mufafa's Kitchen," especially in the latter's catchy dulcimer refrain, while "Up From the Depths" slowly undulates with guitar and jazz trumpet, further revealing the versatility of these superb performers.
Stephen Roach, Marta Richardson, and Israel Sarpolus revel in the unique elements of each track, flowing effortlessly from one style and instrument to another as easily as the water they seem to emulate. While each track has its own distinctive flavor, they form a stunning musical tour de force.
Not quite folk music, or world music, or New Age, but consistently a delight that transcends genre and location and even time, Songs of Water is easily one of the finest CDs I have heard in several years.

--Richard Mackenzie, Mysteries Magazine, Vol. 4, #3, Issue #14.

posted by Stephen at 2:26 PM

Sunday Evening's music at the Park was great! It was good to be out there playing again. I was surprised at how many of you showed up to support us after such a long "sabbatical" of not playing out.
Many of you asked if we had any new recordings. We do plan to record a new cd this year which we will keep you informed about as it progresses. Also, as I mentioned, we have already recorded a song for a wonderful compliation project that is due to be released in the fall. All the proceeds from this will go to dig wells in Africa to provide clean water.

Thank you again for your support. Keep checking our site for updates and new info.

stephen

posted by Stephen at 8:25 AM

Okay so we are the slackest band on the face of the planet and havent updated our schedule page for longer than I will admit. So, IÂll fess up now as to whats been going on with us. Our extended break from gigging has been due to a number of different factors.
We have needed to take some time to refocus our direction and consider our individual commitments to the band. Also, as some of you are aware of, we have been facing some pretty intense health issues with members of the group that have made gigging a challenge for them at times. I myself as have been preparing to record a lyrical album of songs that arent exactly songs of water material.
However, we have recorded a new song of ours that is going to be part of a really cool compilation cd coming out soon. Its for an amazing cause too.
Zao water is a water bottling company of Moravian Falls NC which uses their proceeds to dig wells and provide clean drinking water in Africa. They have already saved hundreds of lives and seen incredible results through their service. To spread the word, they gathered a number of artists to contribute a song specifically written for the cause. It was only appropriate that songs of water would make a contribution! Keep checking the site and when its done well have them available. Also, keep in touch with us and hopefully we will begin to gig out again at some point in the future.

Thank you for your support!

Stephen

posted by Stephen at 8:25 AM

Instrumental collectives are nothing new, so when you come across a group like Songs of Water, you hope there will be something to set them apart. Sea shanties, perhaps? Even better. This eclectic instrumental ensemble from Greensboro dives into an ocean of exotic instruments and comes up with a truly vibrant and memorable record.

What immediately distinguishes this self-titled, self-released, full-length disc is the instrumentation. There are the usual guitars, occasional horns and strings, and even a few instruments you can't pronounce (doumbec, djembe, knaal). But the kicker is the use of hammered dulcimer, something you don't hear too often outside traditional folk groups and craft fairs.

Here it's employed to full effect. Far more demanding than its strummable mountain cousin, you might expect a timid phrase or two would be all most could muster, but instead it soars, gracefully darting in and out of the arrangements, deftly coloring the songs with swiftly moving lines and graceful melodies.

The group doesn't leave the traditional heritage of its influences entirely behind. The album is wholly acoustic, and numbers such as "When Leaves Are Green" and "Mufafa's Kitchen" immediately call to mind images of the Irish countryside and Middle Eastern vistas, respectively...

...Songs of Water crafts a record utterly beautiful and meticulously presented. The thoughtful listener won't be disappointed.

— Daniel McMillan

posted by Stephen at 1:27 PM