Maura Kennedy, a veteran East Coast singer-songwriter, teams up with widely published California poet B.D. Love to create Villanelle: The Songs of Maura Kennedy and B.D. Love, a unique collection of songs. After meeting last summer and discussing music and poetry, the idea for the unique record was hatched between the two. B.D. would provide Maura with original poetry, anything from modern verse to tightly composed sonnets would be fair game, and Maura’s would weave his words into melodies without changing their form; without turning them into well-worn song forms. The challenge produced a new kind of melody writing where rhythm and phrasing followed poetic image, rather than the other way around.
Five and a half weeks later, Villanelle: The Songs of Maura Kennedy & B.D. Love was fully written and recorded. Maura Kennedy is one half of the Americana duo, The Kennedys. She has released over a dozen albums in the past 20 years. B.D. Love has had several books of poems and fiction released, and his work has been published in over a hundred literary journals. Needless to say, the teaming up of this artistic duo makes for a very interesting and unique record.
The record opens with “Villanelle”, a vocally beautiful track, driven by guitars and drums. Maura Kennedy possesses a beautiful, soft, angelic voice. “Fireflies” is a really cool track; it has such an interesting sound and rhythm to it. I particularly like the line, “We’re meant to shine like fireflies”. It’s a really unique, intriguing song. “Soldier’s Wife” is a love song, celebrating the love between a soldier and his wife. The lyric formation on this record is just so unique, it sets it apart from all the rest. It’s literally poetry set to music.
Up until now, the record has had an indie-folk sound, but with “Mockingbird” that changes. “Mockingbird” features an accordion and has a touch of a polka sound to it. The accordion is a cool twist. “She Worked Her Magic On Me” is driven by guitars, as it tells a tale of a lady working her magic on a the narrator, putting him under her spell. “I’ll Be Alone Tonight” is a piano led waltz.
Villanelle: The Songs of Maura Kennedy & B.D. Love concludes with “Beneath the Mistletoe”, a Christmas-y track led by the piano. The record is extremely unique, I’ve never come across one like it before. Everything about the album sets it apart from others. If you’re looking for an intriguing, different, out of the box album, this is it! Have a listen and see for yourself.
Originally posted here.
