If you’ve been around my folk reviews for a while, you’ve seen and heard Andrea von Kampen. I’ve written about her music many times, featuring thoughtful poetic lyrics and an unmistakable, beautiful voice. I’m not sure that I can say much more about ...
If you’ve been around my folk reviews for a while, you’ve seen and heard Andrea von Kampen. I’ve written about her music many times, featuring thoughtful poetic lyrics and an unmistakable, beautiful voice. I’m not sure that I can say much more about her style and songwriting, but this latest EP definitely is worth noting. Let’s take a deeper look at the three tracks on the EP.
“Black Flag” begins with a careful acoustic guitar part that feels like a lullaby. When the vocal enters, the first line hits, “I hope you love the world you made for all of us.” A letter to God, presumably… and a bold way to open the EP. It immediately conveys some of the emotions I felt when I first heard Noah Gundersen’s iconic “Jesus, Jesus.” There’s a folk storyteller’s heart here, but also something deeper… something… spiritual… a seeking, perhaps. Why is the world the way it is? The main line about not being able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves is from Thomas Merton (and yes, even this history prof had to Google that, so don’t feel bad if you didn’t get the reference on first listen).
“Spinning Wheel” feels like a vintage AVK track. There’s a prayerful sincerity in the vocal delivery that I always appreciate. The phrasing on “she told me of a dream…” reminds me of a Dylan lyric. The other strings that enter the track (cello, and maybe a violin or viola?) really set a peaceful mood here. It feels more like a chamber folk song than others in her catalog and I’m absolutely here for it. It’s probably my favorite on this EP, to be honest.
“Before I Buy a Gun” feels like von Kampen’s statement song. It’s not a cover of a classic or a track for a soundtrack; this is a political statement about caring for your neighbor. It’s not an anti-gun song (for those who miss the nuance here); the message is about knowing your neighbor and loving the people around you rather than fearing them. The melodic structure is reminiscent of a classic hymn. The vocal harmonies in the background feel like something we might hear on a Sunday morning in thousands of churches across the United States. It’s styled in the form of “Down to the River to Pray,” a traditional that became re-popularized by the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. This vocal harmony sound allows for the message to permeate a bit more intimately and it’s an effective message.
All told, this EP does a number of things well. Each track stands on its own with a message that feels meaningful. These aren’t just tunes or stories. They feel like laments. They feel like careful, deliberate expressions. The choice to release these at this time seems timely. I’m happy to share them with you all. I know I’ll be putting “Spinning Wheel” on my personal playlist for years to come.
