Description
Crowing Ignites is an instrumental album by the Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bruce Cockburn, self-released in September 2019 under exclusive license to High Romance Music Inc., marketed by True North Records. (The album’s title is a literal translation of the Latin motto “Accendit Cantu” featured on the Cockburn family crest.)
Unlike Cockburn’s previous instrumental album, Speechless, which included mostly previously recorded tracks, the latest album – Cockburn’s 34th – features 11 brand new compositions. Each track was wholly created in the makeshift studio he and produced Colin Linden put together in a converted fire station in Cockburn’s San Francisco neighbourhood.
Bruce Cockburn is the only recording artist who had a nomination in 2021 (in “Top Instrumental” category) for the 50th Anniversary JUNO Awards and who actually won a JUNO 50 years ago in 1971. Cockburn won “Top Folksinger” which was the first of 13 JUNOs Cockburn won in several categories including the “Hall of Fame” award.
This album is a real surprise. Cockburn named his last release Bone on Bone, because he was suffering from arthritis to such an extent that it was affecting his guitar playing.
One might expect his response to major on singing, where arthritis has no effect, covering over any guitar-playing deficiencies, but no. Maybe he thought it his last chance to feature his guitar work before the fingers do give up.
Cockburn’s recent albums have generally been better for instrumental tracks and here he does the whole disc wordlessly. In some players’ hands that might mean a lot of similar sounding music, but this album revels in variety. Yes, there are plenty of his cascading compositions, but the style differs from track to track.
Opener «Bardo Rush» is fairly structured in song format, although maybe not a tune that would be easy to sing to; while by contrast, it is easy to imagine Cockburn singing to the early tune of «Easter», which slows things down to a more reflective pace, before changing into a brisker affair (that would be the resurrection, then).
«Blind Willie» (obviously) and «The Groan» are blues pieces; «Sweetness and Light» has a rag-like feel; and «The Mt Lefroy Waltz» turns remarkably jazzy, thanks to its chords and some discreet scat singing to Ron Miles’ cornet. Cockburn even explores his Scottish ancestry on «Pibroch: Wind in the Valley», which definitely evokes craggy highland mountains and chilly winds.
While Cockburn’s guitar work has always been eloquent and technically proficient, only three of these eleven pieces are solo guitar. Colin Linden joins him with dobro, baritone guitar and mandolin on three tracks; a few have percussion; but most noticeably, Cockburn employs his collection of various bells to great effect. The MLK-inspired «April in Memphis» features chimes, «Seven Daggers» uses a selection and on «Bells of Gethsemane», they add a disquieting element to evoke the stresses Jesus felt in that garden.
While arthritis may have slowed down his playing – and that is questionable, when you hear the fingerwork of «Angels in the Half Light» – it has taken nothing away from the tunefulness, creativity and distinctive style that make this such an enjoyable and mood-inducing collection.
Oh, and that weird title? It comes from a translation of his family motto. I’d go with the alternative translation ‘Music excites.’ Bruce’s does. [Derek Walker, The Phantom Tollbooth, 27 October 2019]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/crowing-ignites/1466899391)
CD tracklist:
01. Bardo Rush – 5:01
02. Easter – 5:47
03. April In Memphis – 5:17
04. Blind Willie – 3:55
05. Seven Daggers – 6:20
06. The Mt. Lefroy Waltz – 5:54
07. Sweetness and Light – 3:33
08. Angels In the Half Light – 5:33
09. The Groan – 4:17
10. Pibroch the Wind In the Valley – 4:03
11. Bells of Gethsemane – 7:21
Note: Released on both CD and 12-inch vinyl LP by True North Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://brucecockburn.bandcamp.com/album/crowing-ignites
“April in Memphis” (MUSIC VIDEO).
Here’s what Bruce Cockburn has to say about the video:
“The piece came into being on MLK Day 2019. It pretty much formed itself in the course of a practice session. It took the shape of a lament, more than a celebration, which set me to thinking of King’s murder, and the loss of a voice of wisdom, compassion and respect that we could really use about now. Hence the title. I think the video conveys the right sense of the poignant beauty, of the dignity, of the man and the spirituality that fueled him.”
Also here are a few lines from Kurt Swinghammer who produced and directed the video:
“Creating an animation for Bruce’s moving instrumental was an inspired opportunity to reflect on the loss of the most important spiritual leader of the last century. 50 years after MLK’s assassination, we clearly still need to hear his message.”
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