Search - Azure Ray :: Hold on Love

Evocative -- A Slow Dance in a Ghost Town

J. Alfier | Germany | 12/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Taking nothing from their own uniquely sonorous voices, I find Azure Ray at an evocative intersection of Suzanne Vega, Dar Williams, and Margo Timmins of The Cowboy Junkies. There is an anti-heroic quality of pastoral loneliness in their voices, like whispers sung; highly recommended."

Aural medicine

Tim | Baltimore, MD, USA | 01/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everyone gets depressed. This is awesome for those hopeless nights when you don't think things will change for the better. It's a soundtrack for knowing that it's OK if things never get better. It's awesome when no other CD seems to fit. Beautiful and poetic, it brings the beautiful aspects of life - including the sad ones - to the forefront. I prefer Maria's tracks overall, but my favorite track on here is "Sea of Doubts" fronted by Orenda - so beautiful."

Their best yet

Frank Gualtier | Colorado, USA | 02/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First and foremost Orenda and Maria are deeply introspective and unpretentious poets.

They are mere mortals and they embrace, yet do not crush, that fact. Nor do they see

fit to make it an altar on which to sacrifice their inner children. The culmination

is that of ancient souls very much aware of their current journey through whimsical

youth. That and a profound sense that both the old and the new are keenly aware of

and watching the other with curious fascination. They articulate these things with

a magical ease that would make the best of deeply human sentiment driven poets to

snap all their crayons in half and take a sabbatical in hopes of losing all the lofty

veneer that weights them near to drowning in waters five syllables deep. They don't

get too specifically personal (no songs that tell us the names of everyone they know

and love and hate - a thing that is all too prevalent in music lately) and they don't

dole out huge clay tables of sage lesson. Instead they discuss experience in the

context of experience.



Secondly they both have multitudes of identity in their voices. Energetic and happy

children etched with young women in and out of love and overcast by clouds of the

weary who have been worn much by experience. They sing sing softly. To many a singer

that is a death card as the human voice usually sounds very different at various

volumes and we live in a culture that charms the the loud and often harsh. Yet they

thrive in the serene end of the pool and again it is magically transposed to the ear.

Their voices compliment one another on an order that is seldom experienced. Get to

love one and you'll melt to a euphoric puddle of goo when you hear them both together.



One of the hallmarks of Azure Ray has been an oft song that sort of drones along the

same base few chords and/or rythems. They not only pull it off such that one doesn't

feel they've been 'droned' but they go so far as to somehow keep it sounding fresh.

I suspect part of that has to do with their skill and talent as musicians equaling

that of every aspect previously mentioned. Their choice of harmonies and rythems are

such that they compliment this style. But not everything they do is like that. In

fact on this album they demonstrate a most impressive harmonically rich song 'We Are

Mice' that really tugs the listener in with it's dark delicious alternating dissonance

and consonance with verse must surely have been penned by someone with firsthand

knowledge of clinical depression:



'it's all in the eyes

the reckless way we dream to die

our past is our future

...

we'll touch hands on the street

smile and keep moving on towards the heat

...

it's our lot in life'



And again they depart in 'If You Fall' which is anything but a drone. It's major

chords progress in half steps with a joyful vivaciousness that will have you

bouncing up and down in your seat to tempo. The lyrics of this song fall in

thematically with the the whole 'Hold On Love' thread and have elements of

optimism, fascination, curiosity, and somewhat tame optimism:



'let's talk and we'll fill the air with imagery that lasts forever

...

if you fall will you get up

...

you drift too far will you swim towards the shore

and if you fell in love will you hold on to it

...

you speak so sweet with words so delicate

a glass i hope will never shatter'



And of as mentioned the weary and worn exemplified in 'Look To Me':



'i hold your hand as you slip from me

as i watch your breath i say to myself one day this will all end

...

but i know you're right as i begin to pack

without raising your eyes i hear you sigh oh you'll be back

because i look to you and you look to me

we're a real f****d up family'



This is Azure Ray's finest collection to date. I see they've both done solo

albums and in reading an interview with Orenda Fink I was left with the

impression that while things are still good they are feeling the need for

time away from one another. Not surprising at all but tragic if that should

turn into a permenant arrangement. I understand they've been touring apart,

one as Azure Ray and the other with collaborative efforts with other musicians

which fortifies my concern. While both are good as individuals it would be

a terrific loss to lose them as a team. I'm always amazed at what hits the

airwaves and music videos; at who is raking in sickening amounts of money

and who still tour as if on a serious budget. These two women are the real

deal. If you like what you've read give them a shot. If you like your shot

then spread the word and buy a copy for a friend or two. It's up to people

like you and I to force an obviously corrupt music industry's hand to play

a much higher caliber of music consistently. Your dollar is the vote that

counts.



Best Wishes, -frank-"