A powerful combination of music, message and spirit
Brian Baskerville | Ottawa, Canada | 02/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like a cool mountain stream, cross'n water, the debut CD from singer-songwriter Ford, both refreshes and energizes the spirit.Each of the disc's twelve tracks stands admirably on its own; however, when taken together, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A deep sense of spirituality is the thread that weaves its way throughout Ford's work, and lays the foundation for each song. It's not a meek, passive spirituality that's evident here, though; rather, it's a strong, pragmatic form that cares passionately about the world and its people, and urges us to stand up, take notice of what's going on, and work to make things better.The lyrical strength of cross'n water is easily equaled by its superb musicianship and production. A wide variety of styles are present, ranging from hard-driving rock to reggae and acoustic folk. Instrumentally, the strong guitar base provided by Ford is overlaid with contributions on various tracks from harmonica, vibes, recorder and lap-steel guitar, among others. The vocals have an intense, soulful quality that makes them perfectly in synch with the evocative lyrics.Although each of this CD's tracks is strong, certain ones deserve special mention. S.O.S, the disc's opener, is a passionate call to action which sets the scene for what's to come. Send an Angel is a beautiful, electrifying song based on a street scene in New York City. Open up the Door radiates a sense of pure joy, and features an outstanding turn by Cynthia Johnson (Funkytown) on lead vocals. And Bubble, with its reggae feel, is a thought-provoking look at life from the perspective of an unborn child.There are many CDs out there that possess some of the strengths evident in cross'n water, but precious few can equal its powerful combination of message, musicianship and spirit. If we're lucky, it will only be the first in long series of releases from this exceptionally talented artist."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1