SONGBIRD'S CRY

Glass Hammer-related one shot project, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.U I Blue were guitarist/singer Jon Paul Davis and female singer Laura Lindstrom, who participated in some of Glass Hammer's 00's recordings.The duo recorded their debut ''Songbird's cry'' at Sound Resources with the help of the Glass Hammer team.Fred Schendel provides keyboards, guitars, bass, drums and backing voices, while Steve Babb plays keyboards in one track.The rest of the backing musicians were Terry Clouse on bass, Jay Craven on clarinet, Tracy Boyette on additional voices, Ben Davis on acoustic guitars and the Adonia String Trio on strings.

The most original thing about U I Blue were their beautiful, sensitive and alternating vocal lines, sung in English by Lindstrom and in French by Davis, creating an ethereal amalgam of harmonic vocal deliveries throughout the album.Musically the album is a lovely mix of Folk Rock and light Progressive Rock with a few modern elements thrown in, like the programmed drums and some well-adapted beats.U I Blue come close to the less powerful moments of KARNATAKA or IONA, creating smooth, elaborate soundscapes with a good instrumental depth, based on electroacoustic changes, atmospheric keyboards and excellent singing parts.But there are also lots of symphonic injections under this rural cover, characterized by the nice Mellotron touches of Schnedel as well as the discreet orchestral tunes met in the album.WHITE WILLOW seem a good reference point as well during these moments.The songwriting is top notch.Well-balanced between vocal and instrumental parts, relying mostly in a mellow enviroment with the focus on melody and atmosphere, but always adding more grandieur through the emphatic keyboards, synthesizer and Mellotron.Nice, emotional and often very impressive material.

Too sad the story of this talented duo ended in this release.A must have for all fans of KARNATAKA, IONA, MOSTLY AUTUMN and even MAGENTA and PAATOS.Smooth, light Prog Folk/Art Rock with romantic but well-inspired tunes.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.