Beautiful Gray Day, Leper's album, is by far the best thus far, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous 2 Cd's,
Kreischen and
And Everybody Died, also released by Grrr Records.
Skot Shaw's Boiwesque voice lends itself well to Lepers dark, haunting and captivating style, mixed with the sounds of the 12 stringed guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, distorted drums and additional vocals.
Otto Jensen, who has been touring with Leper 2009-2011 while playing bass, and
Cecily Marx, a violinist and vocalist, add much to the total package. Each song from its beginning to its end adds to the total package.
The first song
Ascolta (Harken), set the mood for the CD beautifully with its dark melodic tones.
Cora Vuole Dire Morire (What Does It Mean to Die), is at once creepy, playful and deep.
Perseguita (Haunt) is a haunting reflection on love and death. In my opinion, it should join the ranks of great Gothic love songs. If I had to choose a favorite from this album, this song would be it.
La Pioggia Triste, Triste (The Sad, Sad Rain) opens very creepy, with a very good beat, with words that linger in your thought for some after listen. I could not resist dancing to this song.
Fai Come Vuoi (Do As Thou Wilt) is a good reflection on what happens when we are not submitted to God, and takes it from a different angle than normal. Brings to mind "
it is like a man who looks in a mirror, then turning away forgets what he looks like".
Odio Tutto (I Hate Everything), is a song many of us can identify with, and the name for this CD appears to have roots in this song.
Lacrime Nere (Jet Black Tears), resonates deeply and found me singing along.
Non Ho Piu Paura Di Dormire (I Am Not Afraid To Sleep Anymore), is a deeply moving song. I love how it repeats, "
I will pray.", over and over. It is an compelling song that genuinely
moves me to my core. L'artista
Dentro Di Te (The Artist In You) is a haunting song about our need for attention, and what price we can pay.
Spezza, Spezza, Spezza (Chop, Chop, Chop) has always been a favorite and has been played at Leper concerts for some time. Tis very nice to have it on Cd so one can dance with it when ever they wish.
Se Solo Io (If Only) is a gloriously eerie song where the the guitars shine.
Il Modo Che Tutto Si Svela (The Way It All Unfolds), is the most powerful of all the songs on this cd. Leper saved the best song for the end of the cd. It is a short, sweet, powerful call to hositality and caring for the outcasts and rejected ones. It perfectly rounds out the CD, and leaves one wishing for more.
In all this 7th album, Leper's 3rd with Grr Records, is a must have for any lover of Christian Rock, especially those who love the older more haunting Gothic style of music. It get my mark of 5 out of 5 Horse Shoes (my equivalent to 5 stars),
UUUUU. I would also say if you like 12 string guitars or haunting, Old World style, folk ballads, give this Leper CD,
Beautiful Gray Day, due to release September 11th, 2012 a try, you just might be surprised.
~
Traveller Gal, out!
This has to be my second favorite time of the year, next to winter, of all time. I love the ciders, the leaves, the animals, and the start of fires in the fire place. This is when one can start buying things for the long winter a head, and start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
"High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art!" It can be strange to think about what use to be important. What is a treasure to me? I only have a few earthly ones: Robby, my doll - Beth - which I have had since I was 10, our two Navajo Rugs, and all our dear friends and family (most of these people we shall see in heaven, if not all before the end)... But my greatest treasure is Iosa, I would chose Him above it all.
When we talk about living our faith, and being Jesus hands and feet, what do we really think about? Do we see a poor widow? Do we see the fatherless kids down the street? Do we remember the thousands without clean water? Do we think of the many without a meal, espcially the 1 in 5 children who will not eat today? Do we remember the orphans, the homeless, the strangers, and the outcasts? Do we think of those ill? Do we think of those alone? Do we care? Do we picture feeding 5,000?
Have you ever gone to church Sunday and had a reverse offer? What is that? Were the church passed the offering plate and TOLD you to take $1 dollar out for yourself. Then we learned about the parable of the talents Then we all, along with many other churches descended upon walmart (only food place that could handle all of us), and each spend that money, and many of us beyond that, to buy food for others. Result? One large truck, plus 7 small pick-ups full of food... how many feed still pending... That to me is living our faith... in a BIG way.
It was surreal. The world I had known changed that day in a single moment. I watched till bed that night. I saw the towers fall, we worried that the 4 planes were all that were hijacked. So many dead, so many still ill from it. The market in Wichita, KS never really recovered. So many jobs lost... Innocence lost.
So on this 11th anniversary of the 4 planes: two who crashed into the Twin Towers, one into the Pentagon, and one into the field in Pennsylvania; this 11th anniversary of the enter of terrorism into common USA thoughts; this 11th anniversary of the darkest day in USA history, I again light a candle in memory of those who passed, those ill from working at ground zero, all the rescue workers, and our military. May God be with us, protect us, and guide us in the future...
One of the biggest surprises and blessings has been my little sister, Chissy, and her son (my nephew), Ethan, entering my life. Chrissy was a surprise to me on so many levels. First that she was in my life, after not being for 24 years. Now, I am shocked that we have become best of friends, the "forever friends" that sisters should be. Tis not a bad shock, but a joy I never dared dream would be mine. What a blessing it is to have Chrissy and Travis back in my life again!
So many things have changed over the past 9 years, but these three remain the same: my love for Celtic Christianity, my desire to journey and travel for God, and the calling (now clear) to Dine Bikeyah.
La Pioggia Triste, Triste (The Sad, Sad Rain) opens very creepy, with a very good beat, with words that linger in your thought for some after listen. I could not resist dancing to this song. Fai Come Vuoi (Do As Thou Wilt) is a good reflection on what happens when we are not submitted to God, and takes it from a different angle than normal. Brings to mind "it is like a man who looks in a mirror, then turning away forgets what he looks like". Odio Tutto (I Hate Everything), is a song many of us can identify with, and the name for this CD appears to have roots in this song. Lacrime Nere (Jet Black Tears), resonates deeply and found me singing along.
With the rain from the remains of Hurricane Issac, we have been inside most of the time other than church for the past 3 days. I love the rains, the fresh coolness, the wet dirt between my toes. It always seems like a time of refreshing to me. One joy of these past days, was discovering 2 nice farmer markets, one with free range brown speckled eggs for just $1.50... and an antique store with delightful items, which gets me reflecting on the our journey...
"The journey is the destination..." As I sit here tonight
thinking of the journey, from my birth out in western Kansas, to my
adoption and move to eastern Kansas, to the summer trips to Poteau, OK,
to our family vacation to New England, to Mission: Mexico, to the family
trip to Desert Southwest, to Mission: New Orleans, to the Journeys to
Wisconsin, Michigan, Cincinnati, Knoxville, BABR, Chicago, Kentucky,
Wichita, Flagstaff, Thoreau, and so many others, it really is true that
the journey is the destination... "Thank you, Daddy, for this journey called life! Amen!"
