Search - Frances England :: Paths We Have Worn

Throughout the songs on Paths We Have Worn, England has us contemplate being there for each other, being available physically, emotionally, mentally, just being, existing for each other. She has us think about and appreciate our partner's strengths, particularly the strengths that help us get through another day, to try to be that reliable and comforting base of security even as friends come and go. She also has us face the fear that life is passing us by, of not having made the most of what we've been offered, and comforts us with the fact that we have each other to motivate us to explore, to see and experience things we've always wanted to see and do. It seems that England's strength lies not simply in the ability to write good songs, she assesses the mood of a particular situation (uncertainty, thankfulness, loneliness, strength) and constructs the music around that mood. Frances England is in good hands with producer extraordinaire Dean Jones. His production work incorporates traditional world music instruments, muted electronica, and warm, intimate acoustics; his own unique Digital Back Porch Music for the indie folk arena. Paths We Have Worn is delicately produced by Jones, a quavering saw here, a whispering fiddle there, and, almost subliminally, touches of electronic music embedded in the fabric of the compositions. When Paths We Have Worn is released in September, listeners will be impressed, although not surprised, with the quality of Frances England's debut grownup album. Introspective, thoughtful, melancholy, hopeful, joyful. Beautiful. -- review by Warren Truitt, About.com