Search - Pura Fe :: Holdin the Rain

Pure Faith

Joseph | NC | 06/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pura Fe', creator of the internationally renowned women's native trio, Ulali, embarked on a solo career with her CD "Follow Your Hearts Desire." Now, she has teamed up with one of Seattle's finest guitarists, Danny Godinez, to create an awesome CD of personal songs. This album says unavailable on Amazon but can be found on other sites.



Hold The Rain is much different than her previous works...less political, and with Danny Godinez's awesome guitar combined with Pura Fe's cool slide guitar and great voice is a pleasure. Here's a breakdown of all the songs on this CD with my initial thoughts:



*My People, My Land (Part 1) A short intro to the CD. Just a drum, with Native American choral singing...



*If I Was Your Guitar: A very catchy and sometimes humorous tune. Pura Fe' attributes the song to Kelly Joe Phelps, who inspired her to play slide.



*Summertime: This is an awesome rendition from the Gershwin opera, Porgy & Bess. The arrangement is great...starting off slow with the slide guitar then it turns into an upbeat swing jam that you can dance to!



*Let Heaven Show: Joni Mitchell meets Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter? Maybe, maybe not. Pura Fe's voice is beautiful here...wonderful lyrics...awesome strumming from Danny Godinez...a perfect song! My personal favorite. A+++



*Little Girl Dreaming: A good song overall...and one of the few on the album with percussion.



*Hold The Rain (Part 1): One of the best songs on this album. Moving, unique and beautiful...a song dedicated to her late father.



*Hold The Rain (Part 2): Very hard to describe this wonderful coda: tormented cries with beautiful spanish guitar pickings over stirring, discordant background strings, a native american chant and flamenco or gypsy blues? Haunting and beautiful at the same time.



*Follow Your Hearts Desire: Unlike the piano version which appears on and is also the title of her last CD, this version is a rock n roll rollercoaster ride!



*Love Like Mine: The slide guitar is the main instrument here, and its probably the most "bluesy" song on the CD. Love the lyrics.



*People You Love: Pura Fe' duets with Eric Bibb for this sad tune. Its about losing a loved one. Although not overtly religious, it implies that their spirit lingers on around us. Beautiful vocals and guitar from Eric Bibb. Very different than all the other songs.



*Home: Also called "Familiar Joy"...another tune which is mostly slide guitar, with some of the most heartbreaking lyrics: "Don't you leave this earth without me...the sun will never reach the dawn, like a ghost I chase you through time." There's also a nod at the end to the Level 42 song "Something about you."



*Quiet Moments: A piano ballad, with no guitar. A simple and sweet closing: "When you get to the end of whatever it is you are trying to do or to say...with words. Some will have already heard...some will forever be changed..."



*My People, My Land (Part 2): The outro to this album continues where it left off...except this time Pura Fe's emotional and powerful voice is heard soaring over the choral Native American singing. A powerful Native ending to this wonderful work of art.





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All-time favorite!

Max Airborne | 07/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is stunningly beautiful. I can't seem to stop listening to it, and it's been in my CD player for 3 weeks! Her previous album was good, but on Hold the Rain, she has truly found her voice. Highly recommended! Best album of the year!"

Beautiful

Jayne E. Sparr | Central hawkes Bay New Zealand | 01/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Absolutely beautiful CD! I anxiously waited for it's arrival in my mailbox here in New Zealand and when I finally got it and listened to it was even lovelier than I had anticipated.I love the passion in Pura Fe's voice and all those who joined her with backing.This will be a favourite of mine for a long time to come."