MVI (Mark Vickness Interconnected): In the Rain Shadow

In 2021 I reviewed Mark Vickness’ CD Interconnected which earned an excellent four stars. The artist is back under the moniker MVI (Mark Vickness Interconnected) with his latest album titled In the Rain Shadow. The lineup remains the same but with the addition of MB Gordy on percussion.

The other players being:
Mads Tolling (violin)
Matt Renzi (oboe, English horn, sax)
Joseph Hebert (cello)
Mark Vickness (guitar)
Dan Feiszli (bass)
Ty Burhoe (tabla)

In 2020 Vickness packed his bags and headed to the desert in California’s Owen’s Valley. This inspired the artist to create In the Rain Shadow. The onset of Covid had a major impact, as it had on so many of us. From what I gather, this brought the artist much closer to nature, interconnected with his environment and you can see that in the song titles. Vickness uses his all acoustic band to invoke this imagery and although the album is all instrumental, listening to these tracks does invoke a sense of mysteriousness and calm, of peace and tranquility.

On the first track “High Desert� his mellow acoustic guitar leads the way as the other instruments skillfully enrich the soundscape, creating a gentle flow of music. It’s a relaxing and immersive piece, all you need to do is close your eyes and let the music wash over you. On “Alluvial Fans�, Vickness’ unique style of fingerpicking and tapping combines with lovely oboe, subtle bass flourishes, and violin and tabla driving the rhythm making for a tuneful and memorable tune. His clean guitar is crystal clear in the complex “Roadrunner� with its rhythmic stop-starts and wonderful sax solo. The subtle variations in intensity and robust yet nuanced playing is very effective. “On the Cliffs of Mohr� takes a traditional Irish approach driven by Vickness’ acoustic riff and on the album ending title track, a calming and relaxed sound with pretty oboe encapsulate just how well this ensemble plays with one another.

In the Rain Shadow is a work of introspection and nuanced musicality. For a mood calming effect and complete relaxation, this easily fits the bill. Recommended.

Track Listing:
1. High Desert (4:35)
2. The Gorge (5:04)
3. Alluvial Fans (5:05)
4. Stillness (for Will) (5:02)
5. Roadrunner (4:52)
6. Rupak (for Ty) (3:34)
7. Cloud Shadows (5:24)
8. On the Cliffs of Mohr (4:42)
9. In the Rain Shadow (3:56)

Added: August 19th 2024
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 200
Language: english

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