Hearts and Crafts
by Dick Diamond
. Cherie Call – Heart Made of Wind. Available through Excel Distribution 1-800-566-6114 and www.cheriecall.com.
. Robert Borden, Cherie Call, Mark Geslison, Geoff Groeberg, Dan Austin, Tyler Castleton, Craig Poole (Producers).
. Scott Wiley, Blair Leishman, Mike Green, Barry Gibbons (Recording/Mixing/Mastering)
The value of any creative effort lies in the symbiotic melding of heart-rooted emotions and values combined with the careful exercise and development of craft. The realization of this ideal is amply evident in the work of Mesa, Arizona native Cherie Call. Affording her a well deserved spot in the center of the blossoming LDS/Contemporary Christian Music scene.
Young Cherie began honing her performing skills at the age of three. When she was just thirteen she added song writing to her list of talents and began performing these original creations, during her high school years, for a community touring group. She left Arizona to attend Brigham Young University, graduating in 1997 with a B.A. in Music. Cherie’s songs have been included on several compilation albums, including the soundtrack to “God’s Army” and the 1999 Especially For Youth album “A Season for Courage.” Musical contributions to the award-winning film “True Fans” and its upcoming sequel “The Last Game of One on One” have taken Cherie’s songs to an international audience. Most significant are her three albums: “One Star” which is a four song Christmas EP, 1998’s “Taken” and her most recent offering “Heart Made of Wind.”
“Heart Made of Wind” combines the inspired chord progressions and beautiful melodies of “Taken” with even better musicianship and truly first-rate arrangements and production. It is this chordal movement, the flow of tonal emotion from one harmonic place to another, which defines Cherie’s true gift. “Heart Made of Wind” is a collection of songs that is incredibly accessible, yet involving. Often when listening to pop music, you find your mind wandering, unable to naturally focus on the material. Cherie’s tunes hold your attention, right from the first listen. This quality of enchantment leaves you spellbound, even longing for a bonus song or two.
Cherie’s music is not deeply rooted in the contemporary Christian idiom and her lyrics are not overtly Christian in content. The messages, however, are positive, realistic and sincere. The music is more directly related to the contemporary folk genre and her lyricism follows that model. Sentences are not shortened to allow the words and phrases a neat little groove to fall into. This is not the slick, lyrics-in-the-pan method of song writing, where words are used for rhythmic hooks as opposed to conveying a meaning. The messages presented in these songs are clear and complete. Cherie’s music differs, however, from folk music, in the fact that she has a beautiful and emotive voice, devoid of the typical road-worn vocal chords of most folk singers. And, as an added bonus, she has the deft vocal phrasings of a pop balladeer. The tracks I Can’t Hold Your Shadow and I Am Not a FortuneTeller show Cherie’s ability to sing a song with the same emotion that was obviously used to create the song.
With the help of some of the best studio cats in Utah, Cherie has laid down some great musical landscapes. The song “Paint It Red” has an absolutely infectious and hip groove that pulls you into its painted world. In contrast, the ballad “Going Home” is hauntingly Joni Mitchell (in her earliest years) with its flowingly lyrical acoustic guitar and vocal. The quality of the recording, which is transparent and immediate, brings the listener just a bit closer to these great arrangements as they were performed in the studio.
An artist with a keen sense of where she is going, and a wealth of talent to take her there, Cherie Call has that unique ability to let you ride the wind with her as she takes you on her musical journeys of the heart. Heart Made of Wind is the embodiment of moving song writing, clever arranging and an inspired performance – the result of a finely honed craft with a big dose of heart.
2001 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
