Description
The self-titled debut album by the American singer and songwriter Windy Lyre was released on Blonde Vinyl Records in 1991, distributed by Spectra Distribution. The album was recorded by Chris Colbert of Breakfast with Amy fame at Casbah Studio in Fullerton, California; with Michael Knott producing. All songs written by Windy Lyre and Michael Knott.
Take heart, lovers of female Christian alternative music – there’s finally someone other than Riki Michele to listen to. Windy Lyre, wife of Lifesavers/L.S.U./Blonde Vinyl owner/co-writer Michael Knott, has a debut album that sounds as delicate as her name.
The all-too-short album of eight songs is filled with a starkness in theme and music – and not as aggressive as the aforementioned Michele either lyrically or musically. «Ave» and «Drink» take praise and worship into the alternative realm, while «Blue», like many of the songs, calls out for the help of the Comforter. “Looking for the candle/ Someone did hide/ A river that did flow/ Stops up inside/ And I feed on the loneliness/ And it grows to overtake me.”
As true with much of the project Lyre’s airy, breathy sound makes the songs sound painfully intimate and fragile – barely beyond the range of hurt and pain as Lyre takes listeners into the interiors of faith, plagued with common human inconsistencies we can all take heart in. While it sounds as if Lyre may at any time be overcome by emotion or Knott’s guitar, the effect is cathartic as she closes the album with «Drink». “Drink from the cup of salvation/ It springs up from a well.”
Dark, yet hopeful – responding with questions and answers – Windy Lyre is a welcome new entry to the other kind of Christian music. [Kathleen A. Ervin, CCM, June 1991]
Windy Lyre (Lear, as in King) is another of the new signings to the rejuvenated Blonde Vinyl Records. Female vocalists in ccm can usually be divided into three camps: metal/rock, pop/inspirational, and R&B/dance. Until now, Riki Michele has pretty much been alone in the alternative genre, though she’s probably more identified with R&B because of Adam Again.
Windy Lyre has a delicate voice that compares favorably to Kate Bush and Sinead O’Connor, though it’s neither as quirky as Kate’s or as strident as O’Connor’s; it’s rather more reminiscent of Sinead’s softer side. The musical landscape of Lyre’s debut charts similar territory to that of Cocteau Twins, though rooted in more definitive chord progressions and less elaborate arrangements. Producer Mike Knott plays guitar (lots of acoustic and lightly strummed electric) and bass, and has assistance from two other musicians in rhythm box programming, so a “post-modern MTV” sound is achieved.
Lyre is a talented writer, although she occasionally lapses into Hallmark card sentimentality, as on the pretty «Field of Flowers»: “Life isn’t always a field of flowers/ so if you see some, place them in a vase.” (Hmm, sort of like, if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.) Far more original and poetic are «Illumination»: “Looking in the heart I see/ the burning fire is golden . . . nothing is the same since my illumination;” and «Ave» (Latin, not short for avenue): “Don’t leave me in desire/ there is a vessel in need of healing/ It’s been swung from a gallows/ It’s seen more than it has cared to.”
Windy Lyre gets high marks for musical and vocal ability, and just above average for songwriting, but some of that blame may rest on co-wniter Mike Knott. So, (if I may be permitted a final pun) who has turned out one of this year’s best debuts? Everyone knows its Windy! [Bruce A. Brown, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Issue 2, 1991 (Volume 6)]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/windy-lyre/1518834969)
CD tracklist:
01. Illumination
02. Field Of Flowers
03. You’re Beautiful
04. Ave
05. Paralyzed
06. Blue
07. Day I Die
08. Drink
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Blonde Vinyl Records. Available at Bandcamp: https://thelostarchives.bandcamp.com/album/windy-lyre
“Illumination” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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