Search - Anne Harris :: Gravity and Faith

Anne Harris Gravity and Faith is a journey.
I envisioned this collection of songs really bringing the listener along on a personal journey... sonically, lyrically and energetically...into some of the places my head has been over the past few years, says Anne. Clearly, she s been observing the world around her...in all its beauty, illusion and hypocrisy...and seeking to understand how she relates to it all. The world is a reflection of our inner consciousness, but it s a composite image...and not always a pretty one...so we often don t recognize ourselves in the mirror. It really takes looking within to find and piece together all the disparate fragments of our reflections and illuminate our true relationship to the whole. It s a discovery that opens the door to transformation on all levels and this seems to be the journey that Harris invites us to contemplate.
At times achingly lovely, at other times quite unexpected, Gravity and Faith is her strongest, most compelling work to date. Her voice exudes a revealing honesty, clarity and deep-rooted strength, while her fiddle playing and string arrangements have never been more emotionally engaging. Harris' myriad influences constitute a unique palate and Gravity and Faith finds her making choices both bold and refined, splashing colors across her sonic canvas that ask listeners to open their imaginations, inviting them to see what might come next. The textures are thick and cinematic and there is an uncanny ease with which a rock song illuminates a traditional-sounding Irish tune which perfectly complements a power-pop anthem.
To help realize her vision Anne teamed up with veteran producer and multi-instrumentalist, Brando, whose Soundcake studio is a relative newcomer on the Chicago indie scene. A commercial ex-pat, his expansive artistic vision and technical mastery made him the obvious choice for Harris. I've known Brando for quite a while and we ve crossed musical paths many times. I have a great admiration for his work, says Anne. He has that rare ability to really channel the essence of a song and create a magical sonic space where it can breathe and blossom. When I heard he was building a new studio, I couldn't wait to work with him. He really understands who I am as an artist and where I wanted to go with this record. It was the most freeing and explosively creative experience I've ever had in the studio. It s reflected in the outcome and Gravity and Faith is by far Harris' most fully realized work.
Breathing life into the songs is Anne's versatile powerhouse band: guitarist Chris Siebold (Howard Levy), bassist Greg Nergaard (Las Guitaras de Espana), and drummer Rich Stitzel (Miranda Lambert.) Their strong ensemble presence, forged over 8 years of performing together, is the foundation of this record, giving solid footing to the inspired production that draws these songs in step with Harris' fluid imagination.
Gravity and Faith is indeed a sonic sojourn into one of indie rock's most unique and compelling voices. This is a trip not to be missed.
The journey begins...