Our Pick: Shelley Morningsong - Full Circle (2010)

Artist—Shelley Morningsong
Song—Crazy Johnny
Album—Full Circle

Sometimes a cd is a collection of songs that takes you on a journey. Shelley sings about the spirit and voices of all things natural that could be speaking to us. She asks us to walk with her and in her garden of songs she truly takes you for a musical walk that is both insightful and introspective.

The music follows the relaxed beat of a simple drum and all of Shelley’s songs compliment the rich tone of her voice. Shelley uses many sounds to compliment the settings of her songs including native flutes, rattles, drum rhythms and backing vocals. The flute melody on Morning Song and the answering cello is truly a waking song that is purely instrumental.

Most of the songs have a gentle easy feel to them, richly flavoured with Native rhythms and perspectives. Shelley encourages peace and love in our common connection and expresses the very human doubts and suspicions of life. By the time you reach Full Circle, the title track at song seven, Shelley lets loose with a more rousing rocker proclaiming the victory of her journey.

Shelley Morningsong creates a very listenable music offering and an experience of listening to someone sharing the intimate side of their life experiences. Vocally, the Carly Simon like singer, Morningstar gives us songs that stand on their own or fit together to form a beautiful picture told in music. The characters of Morningsong’s songs are easily recognizable. Morningsong gives us beautiful music and what feels like great theatre, even though everything is presented through sound.