Raven Songs 101

Description

Raven Songs 101 is an experimental album by the American singer and songwriter Kevin Max of dc Talk fame and Adrian Belew, first released independently on Kevin Max and Adrian Belew’s websites in 2003 and re-released digitally by dPulse Recordings in April 2009. Featuring music by Adrian Belew and poetry by Kevin Max.

The true power of poetry lies in the subconscience [sic] and music only deepens that effect. The absence of spoken word as an art form in the market today is a testament to how our culture is deprived of art and creative property. I have been trying to heighten the awareness of poetry in music for years now and am constantly rewarded every time I put my hand to it. With the opportunity of working with my friend, Adrian Belew, I feel that I have again tapped into an art form that should be revived and set free again. Adrian’s music to me is like poetry without confines, space or genre, it was a great privilege to combine and create for you. – Kevin Max

On paper, it’s not a collaboration that makes a whole lot of sense – Adrian Belew, the master of experimental guitar (and who has played with everyone from Frank Zappa and David Bowie to Cyndi Lauper and Nine Inch Nails), collaborating with Kevin Max, book author and onethird of the Christian pop/R&B outfit dc Talk. But somehow, this unlikely pair crossed paths, and collaborated on an album together, 2009’s Raven Songs 101. Basically, the setup is simple throughout the album’s 11 tracks – Max recites bits from his book, The Detritus of Dorian Gray, while Belew supplies sonic accompaniment. Those expecting off-the-wall guitar à la such past Belew classics as Lone Rhino may be disappointed, as quite often Belew goes the “soundscape route,” and on a few of the tracks he doesn’t even appear to pick up the guitar at all (instead, going for electronics and atmospheric sounds). In fact, as evidenced by such tracks as «One» and «River», the album is reminiscent of an earlier effort that Belew was part of, Laurie Anderson’s mid-’80s Home of the Brave. Some may write off Raven Songs 101 as being a bit too artsy, but longtime fans of Belew have come to expect the unexpected from this chameleon-like artist. The king of unexpected musical curve balls strikes again, in the form of Raven Songs 101.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/raven-songs-101/310475432)

CD tracklist:

01. One – 2:34
02. Raven Song 101 – 1:45
03. Whalers Tales – 1:58
04. Black Leather And A Microphone – 3:25
05. And You Tremble At His Feet – 1:18
06. Swing – 1:59
07. River – 5:07
08. When The Dawn Comes – 1:12
09. Raising Cain – 3:37
10. Untitled – 2:26
11. Time The Fever To A Boil – 4:03