Search - Jacob Moon :: The World I Left Behind

In a sense, he must have known that going to a remarkable place like Haiti would transform him. But Jacob Moon was, in another sense, wholly unprepared for the onslaught of new sights, sounds and emotions that would wash over him during his short time on that island. The rampant poverty, the ravaged landscape and the heartbreaking beauty of the Haitian people left an indelible mark on him. Flying home from that experience, all of the themes he had been writing about (our poverty in spirit, the myth of independence, our need to reach out to a world in need) came into focus, finally. It was there on the plane that he wrote "The World I Left Behind", the title track of his latest record, and its emotional centerpiece. Many of the songs pick up this theme on this latest collection, Jacob's third and best CD to date. "Chelseaville" is about leaving the pastoral world of the smalltown behind for the bright lights of the big city. "Siren Song" features a character overcome with a struggle with lust and obsession, wondering if he can ever "hear that siren song and walk away". The yearning in "There's a Place" for another world in which two souls can finally meet is almost palpable, and 'The World I Left Behind' takes on yet another meaning in "One Tragedy Away"; a song about the fact that we in the western world have largely abandoned the mantle of responsibility to use our wealth for healing and restoration. "The World I Left Behind" is clearly Moon's strongest effort, combining sonic clarity with detailed arrangements and strong performances. The music on this gripping new CD is as varied as Jacob Moon's influences which include Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Ron Sexsmith, Todd Rundgren, Steely Dan, Lucinda Williams and Bill Frisell. Jacob credits his band's versatility for bringing off the style changes convincingly, while maintaining a common thread that ties the record together. This is no easy task, as the songs go from gospel-tinged ballad(track 2) to alt-country(track 7) to world beat epic(track 4) and right back down to one guy and his guitar (tracks 5 and 10). Guests include Kim Deschamps (of Blue Rodeo fame)on lap steel and Les Cooper, whose 'Coopertronics' guitar loop on 'One Tragedy Away'.