KATE SCHROCK: Invocation

Kate Schrock

Invocation

© 2007 Kate Schrock (0061370707128)

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Roots folk fusion

notes

Portland Press Herald Review
Category: Music


Kate the Great: Schrock ascends to new heights

The singer-songwriter's new album, "Invocation," is positively
luminous.

AIMSEL L. PONTI August 20, 2007

LOCAL MUSIC REVIEW

KATE SCHROCK -- "Invocation"

— By AIMSEL L. PONTI

"Music -- the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend," said Ludwig van Beethoven.

My take on it is that music is one of those things that I will never quite find the right words to describe, especially on those rare occasions when a song strikes about seven different heart strings and emotional chords all at once.

I don't get it, but somehow the music gets me. So in trying to review the new Kate Schrock CD, "Invocation," I have many options. I could say it's her best work yet, or that it's the most musically diverse. Or I could assert that her voice has reached a new zenith and that her artistic expression as a songwriter has reached a mystical higher ground.

But this is nothing new because I've been a huge fan for years and have gone through the joyful process of welcoming each of her five studio records into my collection and consciousness. I was drawn in the first time I heard "Mission Beach" from her debut record "Refuge" 13 years ago and have gravitated to every release since.

It's been four years since "Indiana" was released and in the "Invocation" liner notes, she explains where she's been and what she's experienced. "In Lexington, Kentucky, a Jamaican horn player showed up in the front row at my concert. After the show he told me that we were going to be best friends" she writes, adding, "The horn player turned out to be the legendary and prophetic musician Glen DaCosta from Bob Marley & The Wailers." DeCosta invited Schrock to Jamaica to lend her voice to a record he was in the midst of recording. Just as importantly, she fell in love with Jamaica, both its people and culture, and was profoundly inspired by the musicians she collaborated with while there. "The simplicity and spirituality of life in Jamaica helped set the vast fast track of American culture in perspective for me. It was a real eye-opener and wake-up call," said Schrock. Next came a trip to Ecuador, which Schrock found to be a source of further illumination in her exploration of what she refers to as "the push-pull of rocket-speed America and the lure for me of a quieter pace/peace."

The end result of these journeys to foreign lands and undiscovered parts of her own mind is "Invocation."

The record starts off with "Stories," and the first sound you'll hear is Schrock's piano, soon joined by the distant-then louder-drums of Ginger Cote, then Glen DaCosta's saxophone and Anne Deck's bass. "All I have are these beautiful stories from all I ever do. All I have are these wonderful stories, so I tell the truth," sings Schrock. There's a lot going on in this song of many textures, including a background chant from Anne Deck.

"Water's Edge" is marked by vivid dream imagery that casts a spell over the song. "I can't see the ocean now, the fog's rolling in. In this the long goodbye before it begins?"

In the reggae colored "Soul in U," DaCosta's saxophone is a spirited, bouncing presence. Schrock's voice really booms toward the end, then comes back in for a softer landing, led by the sax.

"Why" is a front runner if "Invocation" aims to zero in on a single. Gentle piano, electric guitar and drums stand out on this one.

Speaking of guitar, you'll hear Steve Jones, Jeff Rojo, producer Steve Drown and Kate's brother Nate Schrock on this record.

"Why" could be classified as a protest song that offers a reality check with a poetic sense of frustration. "I swear, if I hear one more person lie, I'm gonna tear down these walls, open your eyes, reach into your heart and say why."

My feeling is that if you're gonna put a cover song on your record, do it right and cover Bob Dylan. Schrock comes through with flying colors with "I'll Remember You." The vocals are crystal clear and you'll hear saxophone from DaCosta as well as trumpet from local jazz man Marc Chillemi.

"Invocation" slips back into a reggae sound with "Message to Babylon," and the bass and drums really shine on this one. "Lord save my sisters lying helpless in Africa. Lord help my brothers who are fighting for their land. Lord save the souls in the land of plenty, they have broken all the rules," sings Schrock.

"Rebel's Eye," is my favorite song on the record. Schrock's piano merges with the flute played by DaCosta. "Even Jamaica, god bless you, won't satisfy. Cause you are the in-between the truth that gleans the light in every rebel's eye." This ranks up there among the best songs Kate Schrock has ever written. It's over six minutes long and every second is with purpose and meant to be absorbed. It also proves Friedrich Nietzsche's point that, "without music, life would be a mistake."
The record could end here and I wouldn't love it any less. Yet there are still three more songs, including "Carolina Hurricane," which comes in a photo-finish second to "Rebel's Eye" for my favorite. "When love takes a hold of you like a Carolina hurricane, you hold it in your soul and you'll never be the same." Schrock co-wrote this with friend and musician Canadian artist Dave Desroches. Ginger Cote's drumming is flawless yet free-flowing. DaCosta is at his absolute best on this one with the saxophone. It's as if the song is a duet, with his horn being the other voice.

"Moon" brings me back to Schrock's earlier work with its dual cornerstones of vocals and piano. Schrock's voice on this one is divine.

On the record's closer, "Home," the flute is mesmerizing, the piano possessed and the drums and bass are on fire. It ends in a way that sounds as though the song is being sucked back into the sky from whence it came. Yeah, Schrock and the band stuck the landing on this one.

You can find "Invocation" at Borders and Bull Moose locations or order it online at cdbaby.com and amazon.com.

Visit the artist online at kateschrock.com.



Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. She can be contacted at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com


Copyright © 2007 Blethen Maine Newspapers

reviews

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  • America's best kept secret
    author: Les Reynolds

    Kate Schrock could well be the best, or at least in the top two or three, singer-songwriters in the country. She could well be considered America's best-kept secret. Hopefully, her latest release, "Invocation," will keep her from being a secret much longer. The Maine-based artist has released a sparkling diamond of a CD which showcases her amazing, crystal clear voice and absolute mastery of the art of the lyric. This is nothing short of brilliance. And the production, thanks to Steve Drown, is flawless. For fans of her earlier music, this will be a real thrill. Perhaps a bit more electic, it still has the elements from "Refuge," "Dame's Rocket" and "Indiana" which made those works of art, as well. Lyrically and musically deep, sometimes a bit dark, always soulful and insightful, this is music to listen to while alone on a rainy day--and in the mood to really feel and think. These are songs which cover the gamut of the human condition. They are stories, exhortations, dreams hopes and yes, even a lament or two. And the spiritual content (not to be confused with 'religious') of several of these tunes is inspiring to say the least. The music soars, dips and settles, always in perfect keeping with the meaning and mood of the lyrics. All the songs are great, although two stand out as superb: Track 4 "Why" with its beautiful infusion of slide guitar and song 8, co-written with longtime collaborator Dave "Rave" Desroches (a Canadian rock musician and songwriter). The latter, titled "Carolina Hurricane," perhaps sums up the listener's experience with this wonderful CD: "When love takes hold of you, like a Carolina hurricane. You hold it in your soul and you'll never be the same."

  • "Invocation": An inspired soul's incantation
    author: Lisa V. Blake

    In Kate Schrock's latest offering, we receive the pleasure of listening to and sharing her vivid musical stories set to her trade mark personal deep lyrics and rich solid sound and sense of timing. She is hitting her stride over the course of the entire album, but starts out strongly letting us know where we are headed, with her as our guide. The contours of this map reveal that she has indeed turned a woman from a girl, claimed territory as her own and is continuing onward into her becoming. In my opinion, this is a listen that warrents consecutive play, beginning to end, as Kate leads us through the tales of her narrative. She often reminds and invokes us to "tell the truth" as she lays herself out, lets us know where she's been, and sings her truth loud and clear with no apologies about where she wants us to be headed. "Why" is the timely single promoting the album for radio time; it goes straight for the aorta of the collective conscience instead of the juggular, but is not the strongest of all tracks. To decide which is, you'll have to listen beginning to end without other distractions. And when Kate and her musicians definitively bring it on "Home" you'll have made up your mind. There is a swell of support for her success and with right timing, her Maine fanbase hopes she'll ride it for all its worth.

  • "invocation" -- the act or process of petitioning for help or support, a prayer
    author: Ned Menoyo

    For those who have been following Kate Schrock through the years, there have been many rewards in listening to her music. From the deeply personal track “Mission Beach” off her break-out "Dames Rocket" album, which is as eloquent in its musicality as it is lyrically, to the hypnotic and tender title-ballad to her "Indiana" album, and the heartbreakingly sweet track “If Loving You“ also from "Indiana" featuring Canadian rocker Dave Rave, Kate Schrock has consistently created soulful and meaningful music. Her lyrics are intimate, but like all good songwriters, she keeps her audience at an arm’s length – bringing the listener into her inner-world without revealing or sharing too much. She keeps everything real but also abstract enough to create a sense that you know Kate Schrock through her music, though you would be hard-pressed to be able to explain any one of her song’s true meaning. Kate Schrock’s piano work is imminently listenable, keeping the majority of her tones in the mid-range, often moving up and down the keys like the way the waves of a sea move up and down the face of a beach – gently but persistently, naturally. Kate Schrock’s latest effort, "Invocation", builds upon her already impressive musical legacy. In "Invocation", Kate Schrock does the near impossible in both expanding her musical vocabulary and also providing some of the best of the music that her followers have come to love. In other words, she has tried a few new recipes and also given us the hearty comfort food that sustains her following. On "Invocation", the second track, “Water’s Edge”, is an example of the very best of classic Kate Schrock – replete with soul and intimacy from its music to lyrics. “Water’s Edge” is punctuated by a snazzy snare drum and its groove is swung along by surging horns. “Water’s Edge” is an example of the singular genre of music that Kate Schrock has created for herself – it is “adult contemporary,” but it is more up-tempo and catchier than what many people think of when they think “adult contemporary”. “Water’s Edge” is pop, but the lyrics have the depth of a Joan Baez song. Welcome to the musical world of Kate Schrock. Like one of her primary heroes and one of the major influence on her life and music, Bob Marley, Kate Schrock dreams, and she shares her dreams with us. Kate Schrock has a wide-open consciousness that she expresses, as Bob Marley did, through her lyrics. On "Invocation", Kate Schrock explores the inner-connection she has with reggae music and with Bob Marley’s legacy. With its staccato electric guitar, its lounging bass, and its playful horns, the third track on Invocation “Soul in U” is clearly a reggae influenced song, if not actual reggae in fact. There is a reason “Soul in U” sounds like real reggae music. Kate Schrock is no dilettante when it comes to reggae music or her interest in Bob Marley – Kate Schrock has traveled to Jamaica a number of times, and she recorded in Jamaica with her friend the legendary “Wailer” roots reggae saxophone and horn player Glen DaCosta, who plays on "Invocation". The sixth track, “Message to Babylon” is full-on reggae swinging as it does with funky horns, an almost playful bass, and syncopated percussion. I and I appreciate “Message to Babylon” very much, and I would not at all be surprised if Bob himself is grooving to it wherever he is now. While there is so much that recommends itself on "Invocation", the fourth track on the album, “Why”, transcends. The hook, as sung by Kate Schrock in the opening line of the song, is preceded masterfully by an electric guitar that is perfectly toned to match her voice. Listening to the melody of the opening line to “Why” gives me a feeling that I can only compare to the moment when I bite into a perfectly ripe strawberry on a hot summer day – it is juicy and sweet and you want to take another bite. The tenth track on "Invocation", “Home”, features a dominating, bluesy bass line. The rhythmic musical lyricism of the chorus in “Home” is reminiscent of early Coldplay and the baroque pop of Matt Pond PA. It is a whole other color of the Kate Schrock palette. "Invocation" is a worthy addition the musical legacy Kate Schrock is creating for the world. From her sophisticated and intimate ballads, to her own brand of genuine reggae, to the harder edge of her baroque pop, there are many rewards to being a fellow-passenger on Kate Schrock’s musical journey. I encourage you to listen to "Invocation" – if you like what you hear, there is a world waiting for you in Kate Schrock’s earlier albums. And, if you get a chance to see Kate Schrock play live, go. Ned Menoyo Los Angeles, California January 26, 2008

  • Long awaited gem
    author: Ed Kim

    "Invocation", the latest musical gem from Kate Schrock is her 5th studio album (6 total, including "Live at the Majestic"), and probably her most complete work to date. It follows "Indiana" which was probably Kate's most spontaneous album, having been recorded in one continuous session at a church in Canada. As Kate explains in the album jacket, “Invocation” was collaborated with Glen DaCosta of Bob Marley and The Wailers. Glen’s influence brings new sound and rhythm to Kate’s music that’s more upbeat and textured than her previous work. Kate’s travels in Jamaica and Ecuador as well as world events of the past few years also paint a different tone to her songs, which have deeper messages without being preachy. All in all, “Invocation” is another gem from Kate that requires numerous listenings in anyone’s play list to be fully immersed in her new, richer sound.

  • Schrock does it again
    author: p. vogel

    Kate Schrock's newest release, "Invocation" is a testament to her staying power as writer, musician and sage. Her emotionally-charged songs touch on various themes relating to love, spirituality and the Iraq War. Schrock represents everything that is good about music: her skill as writer, musician, producer and lyricist is a welcome blessing from the bland commercialism that pervades the medium. Her "craftwomanship" over her music is representative of the power and passion that is still possible in today's market. She is a rare and beautiful gem that focuses on the particulars of her conscience in a way that universalizes it for her audience. If you care about music at all, you must give her a listen. She has something worthwhile to offer.

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