The debut album, I Am Creature Breath, by Creature Breath (Shawn Westendorf) is a wondrous adventure packed with swirling beautiful vocals, psychadelic folk instrumentation and lyrics inspired by love and spiritual exploration.
This album was originally written in Somerville, MA in a blue chair by her bedroom window. Over the past year she wrote a song a month. Many of the songs started with a guitar or kalimbo melody and the lyrics grew from the musical vibrations of the instrumentation. On October 1-3, 2011 many of the songs written over the past year were recorded in Brooklyn, NY @ SukiSound studios and produced by Heidi Harris. The instruments include acoustic/electric guitar, xylophone, clarinets, turtle whistle, kalimbo, bells and piano.
Here is a track-by-track review:
“Sun is Shining” greets its audience with a pretty guitar, xylophone melody and the sweet voice of Creature Breath. This song epitomizes the earthy, emotional, organic and psychadelic tones that flutter through out the album. Furthermore, Creature Breath pens lyrics of great depth; “The wind carries in the sweet scent of your Protector and drops of the dewey eves' nectar.”
“Quiver” was written on an African thumb piano, a Kalimbo, two weeks prior to being recorded. On this track multiple pretty voices wander within the thumb piano melody as ghostly electronics creep around in the background. One can catch a glimpse into the eyes of Creature Breath: “I'd swim cross the vastest ocean to know you deeply, love you deeply… You will find me in your dreamtime lost and lonely, lost and lonely.”
“Spiral Arms” is the rawest songs on the album as it is just Creature Breath strumming and singing away. This song highlights her excellent singer songwriter capabilities and her producer’s awesome backing vocals.
“Comfort Your Mother” Witch-like wandering vocals tip toe in the background. Strummed guitar provides the rhythm while the vocals screech: “I’ll bring your maker to meet you”…”I'll comfort your mother when you have gone.” Creature Breath states that this song came from a place she doesn’t know and that there was the influence of a spirit. If that’s not enough, there is turtle whistle on this track.
“Rebirthday Party” is an upbeat track that that talks of coming into new awareness of one’s self. The presence of a clarinet brings new textures to the album. The production skills shine on this track with two plus thoughtfully recorded and layered vocal parts soloing over each other in a spirited and awakening force.
“The Pull” is an orchestral vocal experiment with spooky electronic noises. Creature Breath’s love for the earth and her connection to its powers became evident. “Feel the pull of the Earth/Bringing you closer to Her/Fall to your death/Life awaits on your next breath”
“Praire” has a new wave feel to it due to a synthetic keyboard that meanders and provides the melody. The backing vocals sound like a bird cawing and the lyrics share the joys of love: “May I raise my voice so my heart can/Sing the songs of joy/The songs of your love and beauty
“Darlin”
This song opens with a heart melting piano, breaths with plucked acoustic strings and peaks with a flurry of impassioned vocals. The vocal solo at the 4:40 mark is epic, emotional and leaves the listener craving more. The lyrics evoke a feeling of a love craved being; "won't you come for me, darlin won't you comfort me.” I was fortunate enough to hear this song performed acoustically and after hearing the recording solidified my opinion that this is the finest track on the album.
This album can be downloaded via Band Camp:
http://creaturebreath.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-creature-breath.
You can become a fan of Creature Breath on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creature-Breath/138622622906684?ref=ts&sk=wall
