What
a deeply satisfying album For All The World To See is
from Becky Schlegel. The voice, the songs, the artistry of
the musicians, all adds to an album that, simply, is clear,
melodic and easy on the senses. Schlegel is a multi-award
winning singer and songwriter. It shows. She has a host of
Bluegrass Artist of the Year awards on her mantelpiece;
again, no surprises – this daughter of a South Dakota
rancher is polished and poised, fully realised on these 11
self-written tracks.
While comparisons
are not needed, if you think Alison Krauss you’re getting
the vocal flavor here. The voice is mellowed, expressive and
tainted with emotional feel – Schlegel paints with her
crafted words, making each tune a standout experience. This
song detail makes for involved listener enjoyment.
The album opens with
the title cut. The beauty of this track, indeed the album,
is it’s not a rushed and paced affair; no, everything flows,
gentle and pure, taking the listener into a musical world
miles from the familiarity of Nash Vegas and its similar
sounding clones. Schlegal is masterful in her work – heady
praise – but honestly deserved. When she joins with her band
of virtuoso musical mates, the outcome is brilliant and
beautiful.
The title cut proves
the point. The opening play, Bo Ramsey’s unobtrusive guitar
marries well with Brian Fesler’s light banjo; it all melds
in a background of minimal interruption to Schlegel’s tune
of standing strong when emotional turmoil hits. With a
common theme of connectedness, this wife and mother of two
boys shares heartfelt emotion on similar sentiment tracks
“Why Maybe,” “99%,” and Schlegel’s album favorite, the
poignant and sparse, “Lonely”. The harmony rich “Bound For
Tennessee,” the revealed sadness of “Jenny” and the
appreciative glance to the “Hills Of South Dakota” confirm
Schlegel’s abundant talents.
Industry press for
this Minnesota talent is encouraging. Speaking of her
earlier work – Red Leaf and Drifter Like Me
--one review writer said her voice was enough to make grown
men cry, while another said her voice could make an older
person feel faint. Of this recent album, another noted music
insider has said, “It is a stunning CD…and I don’t say
that lightly.”
Misery never sounded
better, as Becky Schlegel sings of betrayal and abandonment.
The finery of her songs comes wrapped in a bluegrass mode
that is delightfully musical, keenly expressive and
emotionally revealing; now, if country radio moves beyond
its imposed safety of predictable formats, soon it could be,
as her album suggests, for all the world to see.
Out on Lilly Ray
Records, June 17 is the release date.
