by Catherine L. Tully

Artist: Ockham's Razor
Album: "Ockham's Razor"
Year produced: 2006

This group is brand new, forming only in 2006, and has wasted no time in honing a sound that works. They have also branded themselves with a name that is both clever, and unlikely to be forgotten. For those who aren't familiar, a Franciscan living at the turn of the fourteenth century, William of Ockham, is associated with this idea that states, "entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity," -- an admonition to remember to keep things simple. With 8, well done tracks, this band attempts to--and succeeds--in doing just that. Track 3's title is a perfect example, "I Drink," which is, you guessed it, a drinking song!

Don't make the mistake of thinking that simplicity means that this effort is pedestrian and basic, however. Track 4, "My Lagan Love" is sung with more heart than the most complex of songs out there and is quite different in its arrangement with a quick undercurrent of music paired with slower, melodic vocals for an interesting--and arresting contrast. Sometimes simple is a good thing.

Track 6, "A Face, An Echo" was commissioned for an independent film, which seems to come as no surprise whatsoever upon hearing it--it has that feeling to it. The simplest track, an a cappella version of the Irish classic, "Danny Boy" is an interesting ending to this album. Although the vocalist strains somewhat to hit the challenging notes of this song--he rises to the occasion with emotion--which is how it simply must be sung.

Although the songs on this CD are all different from each other, rather than being disjointed, you get the feeling instead that you are getting a sampling of the band. It will be interesting to see the direction that they take with their next effort and where that leads them from here.

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Catherine L. Tully is a freelance writer and photographer who specializes in the arts. She has written for American Style and Classical Singer, among others and reviews music for Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. You can reach her through her photography website at www.moonbeamdigital.com.

Labels: cd_review_2007

Posted by Marc Gunn, Friday, January 19, 2007.
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