The poetic lyrics and poignant melodies on Shawn Kirchner’s new CD, Meet Me on the Mountain, captured my heart the first time I heard them. The songs are a mix of foot-stompin’ bluegrass, polished country, and soulful folk, inspired by the film, Brokeback Mountain.
Annie Proulx’s short story by the same name first appeared in The New Yorker in 1997. Later, it was adapted into an Oscar-winning screenplay by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry, triggering heartfelt responses from around the world.
Kirchner’s songs offer an added dimension of emotional depth to the scenes and characters that inspired them. Yet the songs also stand solidly on their own, as Kirchner has carefully crafted both music and lyrics to be independent of the famous story.
Anyone who has ever loved someone who was outside the confines of socially acceptable partners is bound to be particularly touched by this music.
Lead singer, Ryan Harrison, weaves his melodies around the listener’s heart with a numinous and evocative voice; rich, strong and captivating. The vocals are supported by superb instrumentation, including some mighty fancy fiddlin’ by Gabe Witcher, and the mesmerizing tones of Tommy Morgan’s harmonica.
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