Search - Luke Brindley :: How Faint the Whisper

Opening my ears to "folk" music...

F. J. Khoury | Parsippany, NJ United States | 05/13/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"How much excellent music is out there, if only the seeker would dig a little bit...and dare to listen to something different.A brother-in-law recently turned me onto the folksy/acoustic/world music of artists like Nick Drake, Tom Waits, Ali Farka Toure, and Ron Sexsmith. When he played Luke's Spring Song CD for me, I didn't have high expectations, because I thought of Luke as just a local guy who happened to be acquainted with some of my in-laws from their high school.Based on a couple quick listens with only half-paid attention, I thought Spring Song sounded pretty good, although at first, I wasn't overly impressed with Luke's voice. Good but not great, I thought. Then we saw Luke and Daniel perform at a coffee house, and man did I sit up and take notice! The songs were almost all superb, especially the ones they were playing from this brand new CD "How Faint the Whisper". I picked it up, and was not disappointed...except that it clocks in a bit short. Luke's voice may not be so noteworthy in itself, but it works beautifully in his music...just like it does for many folk singers, I guess. And after a short time, I wondered why I ever complained about it. His style of guitar playing will grab your attention sooner, though. He uses many alternate tunings and wonderful finger-pick styles. The songs are also arranged well, with a variety of instruments, voices and timbres, without losing the simplicity of really good folk music that can be performed by a couple of talented brothers in a small room as entertainingly as any big venue act.Bravo!!"