Music review: Childhood Home

Album:Childhood Home
Music: Ben & Ellen Harper, Prestige Folklore Records
Rating: 3.5
Soul/Folk: While you certainly cannot tell a book by its cover, as the adage goes, you certainly will get a strong sense of the kind of music in this CD from the album title as well as the cover shot. Eschewing all things glam, this is music with soul, with a capital ‘S’.
Harper was influenced by legendary musicians like Ry Cooder (known for his expertise at slide guitar and pedal steel best heard in the Paris, Texas soundtrack) and the African-American musician, Taj Mahal. Thematically though, the music dips generously into the traditions set by 70s singers like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, with songs about the joys of home and hearth. The album will soothe your senses, perfect for after-party unwinding or some end-of-day soothing, replete with masterful melodies and some inspired guitar playing.
Along with the enchanting rhythm work and acoustics, you’ll also find the mother-son duo’s voices
harmonising pretty well together — but given their musical lineage, this shouldn’t be surprising at all. A House Is A Home lends credence to the fact that there is beauty in simplicity. It has light touches of folk and blues. Heavy Hearted World and Farmer’s Daughter are other highlights, replete with banjo and bluegrass touches. Break Your Heart is another delightful cut, as are Learn It All Again Tomorrow and How Could We Not Believe.
LISTEN: Songs of Childhood Home on Gaana.com
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WATCH: Ben & Ellen Harper - a house is a home