by Julian Mainprize

Who: Ember Swift
What: Progressive Folk-Funk
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: Few’ll Ignite Sound, (416) 533-9863, www.emberswift.com.

Stiltwalking is Ember Swift’s seventh and latest release on her own label Few’ll Ignite Sound. Perhaps the most helpful way to enlighten those whose haven’t been exposed to her music would be a comparison to other artists who similarly defy standard classification. There are definite hints of Frank Zappa in Swift’s complex arrangements and use of a multitude of musical styles. Frequent use of spoken word in place of melody and the inclusion of violin in many of the arrangements also draw parallels to some of Laurie Anderson’s work. There are even brief moments listening to Stiltwalking where the quirky inventiveness of early Primus came to mind. Obviously, the musicianship necessary to successfully pull off such music must be extremely good. Bassist/violinist Lyndell Montgomery and drummer Michelle Josef are invaluable assets in this regard. The sound of the recording itself is very natural, due in part to the use of quite a few acoustic instruments and older analog synths. Swift’s intelligent lyrics can be both light-hearted and politically charged, depending on her mood. Given her musical direction, it is not surprising that Swift has assumed the role of independent artist to the extent that she even runs her own label. This freedom allows her to produce and release music that proves that innovation is still alive in popular music. Stiltwalking is the proof.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 6th, 2003 at 10:36 am and is filed under Showcase. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.