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CURRENTLY IN MUSIC
The smell of freshly mowed hay

Derek Van Nes

40 Acres
Caedmon’s Call. Essential Records, 1999. Produced by Glenn Rosenstein.

To be honest, this is the first I’d heard Caedmon’s Call. I heard people rave about them, but I never listened to any of their music. That being said, I was quite impressed with Caedmon’s Call’s second effort, 40 Acres.

This album is hard to characterize because it has a bit of everything, flavoured with some musical genres like pop, country and rock, as well as some more unique flavours like cajun, African and bluegrass. Notable also is the wide variety of instruments used throughout the album, including banjo, organ, djembe and udu (two African instruments), cello, Wurlitzer (a type of organ with lots of reverb), lap steel (a steel guitar played sitting down), dulcimer (a stringed instrument struck with hammers), accordion, and even trash cans! All this, combined with the fact that Caedmon’s Call rotates through three lead singers gives them an eclectic, intelligent and introspective air. Caedmon’s Call is also quite energetic, and you feel young listening to their music.

40 Acres is also impressive lyrically. I find it refreshing because it deals honestly with the frailties of being human without sinking into depressive melancholy or snivelling about human weakness. Combined with the earthy assortment of instruments, clear and unobtrusive vocals and simple lyrics, 40 Acres paints a picture of a smiling Creator who gives freely of life, love, strength and forgiveness if we’d only reach out in faith.

40 Acres is musically and spiritually refreshing like the smell of freshly mowed hay in a world of exhaust, glossy cellophane and asphalt.

Derek Van Nes is an engineering student at the University of Saskatchewan.

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Last modified September 18, 1999.

© 1999 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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