Out Beyond Ideas

Description

Out Beyond Ideas is a studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist David Wilcox with Nance Pettit, released on What Are Records? in September 2005.

This is a collection of ancient mystic poems, drawn from across the world’s major faith traditions, made into songs by David Wilcox and Nance Pettit. This project benefits the Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding Project at The Center for International Development and Conflict Management, based out of the University of Maryland. This project works to end intractable conflicts around the world through new and innovative person to person diplomacy.

When folk guitarist David Wilcox and wife Nance Pettit received a book of poems containing material from some of the worlds best-known mystical poets it wasn’t long before they were setting them to music, singing them together for the enjoyment of simply singing together. With the encouragement of friends who eventually heard these private songs Wilcox and Pettit decided to record them, the result being Out Beyond Ideas.

As you can imagine from songs that sprouted from such intimate origins there is an amazing candor with the instrumentation sparse and simple, allowing the words to flow freely. A wonderful example is «On A Day When the Wind is Perfect», a warm and encouraging song with a slight 70s folk feel that draws you in through the intertwined voices of Wilcox and Pettit, their comfort with each other making for a relaxed walk down a country road on a bright spring day when the pure white clouds hang perfectly in powder blue skies while young butterflies flit peacefully among the budding wildflowers. In «How Did The Rose Ever Open» the acoustic guitar is joined by a gentle tabla and a melody which is carefree but never capricious, as the duo sing, “How did the rose ever open it’s head/ And give to this world all its beauty?/ It felt the encouragement of light.” In «Absolutely Clear», based on a poem by Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz, their comforting vocals frame the lyrics of “Don’t surrender your loneliness/ Let it cut more deep/ Let it ferment and season you” in a melody that is encouraging but not without a tinge of isolation. A favorite of mine is «Slicing Potatoes» by Rabia of Basara, a light and airy song about finding joy and meaning in such seemingly mundane acts as cooking and cleaning.

The poetry on which Wilcox and Pettit have based these 17 songs come from a wide range of faiths – Christian, Native American, Sufi, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist. But Wilcox has a long track record of using stories to illustrate his Christian faith, bringing grace to life through images instead of cold slogans. To that end he has uncovered the commonalities of these poets, allowing the mystics to challenge us to confront the spiritual dimension of this existence that so often is ignored in the rush of modern life, making the songs appealing and applicable to members of all faiths.

While the music is centered around acoustic guitar and two-part vocal harmonies, a number of guests join them in their discovery, including Grateful Dead alumni Bill Kreutzmann on drums, Phil Keaggy on additional guitars and Matt Slocum on cello. Always in a supporting mode, these musicians never detract from the messages contained within, often adding elements of world music to Wilcox’s solid guitar playing.

As a tribute to the timeless nature of these songs, all proceeds from the sale of Out Beyond Ideas will go towards the University of Maryland Center for International Development and Conflict Management, an organization which works for peace around the world. [Jason Hoffman, Whatzup, 03/16/06]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/out-beyond-ideas/79970256)

CD tracklist:

01. How Did the Rose Ever Open – 3:49
02. The Breeze At Dawn – 4:56
03. Slicing Potatoes – 3:09
04. On a Day When the Wind Is Perfect – 4:11
05. Absoultely Clear – 4:14
06. No One Knows His Name – 2:28
07. Some Seeds – 2:26
08. Farsi Intro – 1:02
09. Out Beyond Ideas – 3:19
10. You Who Knew Me – 3:44
11. Elephant Story – 2:45
12. Midnight – 2:35
13. This We Have Now – 3:31
14. Trembling With Joy – 2:46
15. Shell Trick – 1:04
16. Three Things – 3:37
17. Awake, My Dear – 2:28
18. Walk to the Well (Bonus Track) – 2:51

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://davidwilcox.bandcamp.com/album/out-beyond-ideas