Review of Plumb's Blink CD
Tiffany Arbuckle Lee Releases an Album of Lullabies
One thing is clear very quickly on Blink: Tiffany Arbuckle Lee, the artist known as Plumb, is supremely happy and content in her circumstances.
She is, simply put, happy like a bug in a rug. The mother of two boys, Solomon Fury, almost 2 and a half, and Oliver Canon, 9 months, absolutely revels in the bliss of parenthood and marital happiness. And if that sounds unappealing, don’t worry, it isn’t. What Blink does is give listeners a window into Plumb’s profound joy and awe of the beauty of family life done well, and it comes across as very timely on this immensely personal album.
Track by Track
The opening strains immediately kick off the album’s theme, the notes chiming like one of those wind-up mobiles that hang over a crib, before Plumb’s warm vocals sing the “Sweet and Lovely” ones to sleep. The thick strings also indicate immediately that this is not the Plumb album you may be used to. In fact, it is a Plumb project rich with warmth and intimacy.
Co-writers Matt Bronwelee and Jeremy Bose each worked on three songs with Plumb, and followed her lead into sonically exploring the mysteries and delights of parenthood. Pulsating keys inject ambiance to Civilla Martin’s hymn, “God Will Take Care of You,” before the big vocals of first single “In My Arms” pour out. This radio-friendly track was inspired by first son Solomon, and its maternal lyrics gently parallel the love of God for His children.
Rich Nuance and Perspective
Yes, that’s a harp you hear opening “Always.” Rich guitar noodling adds some needed crunch, and the track goes out on a babbling brook loop, very Serenity Now. There’s lot of spacey looping on the album as well as the unexpected minor chords, which together with Plumb’s ethereal vocals make Blink a very distinctive lullaby type project. She proves once again dependable in terms of unique perspective.
Parent's Pleasure
The second cover, “Children of the Heavenly Father,” has an almost screechy opening violin and dreamy looping that can lose you. But things picked up again and all was forgiven with the beautifully-mixed, textured title track. The lilting and lovely “Me” is a pleasure and gentle rocker “Sleep” is rich with sound. The album closes appropriately with the floaty bed-time song, “Solomon’s Song.”
Blink serves up a whole lot of mellow, which won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but parents especially are gonna fall hard for its rich sense of mystery and wonder. Plumb has shown extraordinary generosity in this up-close and personal window into her blissful family life.
