A Summer Dream Reviews - New Age Music at ShirleyCason.com
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A Summer Dream” is quite different from Shirley Cason
previous album of original material, “Forever in Bloom”.
“A Summer Dream” opens with Carol’s favorite song,
“Springtime”, bright and sunny tune, full of fun and
joy. On a personal note, I lost my dad to cancer at about the same time
Shirley lost her sister, and I found this album to be an amazing
journey down a familiar path. I hope composing this music brought
Cason some peace, as it will certainly be a comfort to others.
A Summer Dream, (2002) Reviewing a CD that is obviously
quite personal and openly emotional for the artist, as is the case with Shirley
Cason's A Summer Dream, is difficult because, frankly, it's impossible to
be as objective as a critic should be (provided one has any feelings,
that is). A Summer Dream is dedicated to (and more or less themed around)
Shirley's sister, Carol, who passed away in the summer of 1998. Having lost
both my parents, the loss of family members certainly hits a chord with me.
However, as a music critic, it's necessary to do one's best to strip all the
"interference" away to some degree, lest one is accused of partiality.
Even when I discard any personal memories, though, I can still recommend
A Summer Dream as a well-performed and gently evocative collection of
piano and synth pieces that are sometimes warm and soft and other times
sad and nearly always genuinely touching. The thing that I'm most
impressed with on this album is Cason's willingness to use a lot
of different synth sounds. So many pianists (when they use synths
at all) just use string fills (and that can certainly be enough).
How refreshing, then, to hear all manner of electronic keyboards,
yet always in the service of melodic, accessible adult contemporary/new age
music.
As you can tell from some of my comments above, I resonated with what
(in my opinion) Shirley Cason was intending on A Summer Dream. So, take some
of my praise with a grain of salt if you're cynical or tend to like music that is more subtle
about its emotional intent. This album is not ashamed to wear its sorrowful
yet ultimately hopeful heart on its sleeve. From a purely analytical
standpoint, it's nice background music for light activity (I think the
emotional highs and lows, however, may make it difficult to concentrate
or read during playback).
Amazon.com customer
I'm only giving this 4 stars -- but for the best reason! She's getting better
and better with each album, so I'm reserving the fifth start for the next one!
Unlike "Forever in Bloom", this one is much more of a progression. It's a
much more orchestral work than the previous selection of songs. This
CD also takes you to darker places than the previous album. The melodies
are more complicated and the harmonies and orchestrations are soaring.
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You'll see them in ... A Summer Dream
www.KathyParson.com
www.Solo Piano Publications.com
Cason’s sister, Carol, suffered from liver diseases, and this
CD tells the story of the summer of 1998 when Carol’s illness
became severe and took her life. Although there is no singing on
the CD, Cason wrote lyrics for many of the songs and included them
in the liner notes for listeners to look at as they listen, giving
more insight into the meaning of the songs. Without the lyrics,
though, the songs are very evocative and powerful, allowing the
listener to attach his or her own experiences to them as shared
emotions. Cason uses various synthesizer sounds and samples to convey
her feelings very effectively. My only criticism of this very fine
album is that I would love to hear a good acoustic piano instead
of an electronic keyboard where the piano parts are. I know that
this is often a matter of economics for indie artists, but, esthetically,
a piano is still so much warmer and richer than the electronics.
"Come Out and Play”
shifts moods a bit, as a sister calls to her sleeping sibling to
“hold my hand and say "Oh let’s
go’”.
“The Calling”
recalls Carol seeing her mother at the end of the bed, and calling her. The lyrics are from
Carol’s perspective, not being able to understand what was
happening, but looking forward to being free from the pain of her
illness. The song is sad, but full of hope.
“Summer of 98”
would make a wonderful movie theme. Bittersweet and melancholy,
the song is full of questions and a tangle of emotions that everyone
has when life becomes especially difficult. “Lost”
is much more abstract and heavy - again the weight of the swirling
emotions and sense of impending loss is very powerful. Last Walk
is perhaps the strongest piece (musically) in the collection
- the mix of emotions being conveyed so successfully is amazing.
“I Love You, I Do”
is a simple love song - a reaching
out before the inevitable comes. “Last Breath” is again
abstract, conveying the sense of unreality that occurs when something
devastating happens. Some of the sounds are distorted and “bent”,
creating a surreal feeling. The tones are very dark and bleak, and
a tremendous sense of loss comes through. “Mama”
is again reaching out, this time for comfort and peace.
“A Summer Dream”
closes this most effective CD on a much lighter note - full of hope
and looking forward, and even moreso of the healing that only time
and closure can provide.
Kathy Parsons
By Bill Binkelman, -
www.NewAgeReporter.com
www.WINDandWIRE.Com
There are extensive liner notes (sometimes in the form of poems/lyrics,
even though the album is wholly instrumental) that paint a picture of love and
loss and growth through pain.
The CD begins with the playful and sprightly
"Springtime" (lilting flutes, bells, bass, and guitar-like keyboards, along
with piano) and begins its voyage through different moods, tempos, and melodic
approaches.
"Come Out and Play",
is a Kevin Kendle-like track with flute and
lovely synth bells. "Summer of '98"
opens with bluesy piano (by the way, if
it matters to you, the piano on the album sounds like a digital, although
a pretty good one to my ears), and the cut soon becomes a reflective piano
and strings tune - wistful yet not somber. "Lost,"
one of the more overtly
new agey cuts on the CD, is sadder, as Fender Rhodes-like keys ride on top
of swirling synths ( I could've done without the wind effects on this track,
though). One of the best selections is the next one.
"Last Walk"
has a unqiuely juxtaposed lively rhythm with quasi-mournful synths (consisting
of nicely flowing keyboards and some plucked note sounds). It's my favorite
track on the CD, I think. "Last Breath" is almost unrelentingly morose at
the start (as the title would suggest, although once again I think the wind
sounds are misplaced) but evolves into something quite different via a
Constance Demby-ish crescendo (signifying "passing over" I would imagine
although I don't want to appear presumptuous). My interpretation is based
on the spacemusic and celestial textures during the latter stages of the
track. The album closes with the title song,
and it's another highlight.
Gentle bells, lush strings, and hushed cymbals open the song which eventually
becomes a piano-led number that speaks of acceptance and the strength that
flows from the knowledge that our loved ones never truly leave us.
I recommend the CD, though, especially to die-hard
romantics and those who enjoy electronic keyboards mixed with piano.
"What a long way she's come!"
Reviewer: Kim from New York, NY:
The first half of the CD is very up and very tuneful, kicking off with
"Springtime" and "Come Out to Play", but then things take on a darker meaning.
"Last Breath" is very disturbing, but "Mama" brings you back brilliantly
and then "A Summer Dream" sends you on your way.
I like the fact that Shirley includes her lyrics, even if they aren't sung.
I really got involved with the unfolding story.
I loved this cd and I urge you to check it out!! Ms. Cason has come a
long way, but, with the promise of this album, she still has a lot to say!
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