The personification of all that is great about indie art, McCracken mines the potential insecurities and isolation of indie music and spins it into creative gold on "Gravity Love." She is unapologetically challenging in her songwriting and purposefully veiled in her lyrics, preferring to take her listeners on a journey of mutual exploration and discovery. Which is not to say that her music is unintelligible; rather, it is thoughtful and well-crafted, moving and rewarding.
Folk-oriented, with shades of occasional pop or country, McCracken references Dylan, Joni Mitchell and the Beatles at various times, the most obvious, of course, the clever George Harrison tribute, "Goodbye George." But her sound is fully her own, her smoky vocals and sharp lyrics loudly proclaiming her talent. The strongly titled "Gravity Love" offers eleven songs of life in all its twists and turns, no holding back.
Folkie opener "Head Over Heel" sets the tone, its compelling lyric stopping you in your tracks: "in the beginning there was sound/I drink from the well that won't run out/ and there I'm lost and found." You're forced to wonder, to consider, and in the end, to worship. I was stunned by the one-two punch of the title track. Its fresh perspective on the crucifixion knocked me out: "and you fell from the tree to the ground/ and the gravity love/it takes you down." Thoughts of God's sovereignty and the blessings it has wrought reached through the Dylan-like arrangements straight to my soul.
Lest you think it's all mental with McCracken, consider the instrumental delights of "Traincar," its rhythm section tighter than the proverbial drum, her vocals tracks laid down with tender care. Written during an Ireland trip years ago, the emotive strings and quiet vocals of "Portadown Station" convey a level of loneliness that pins you to your seat. The splashy drums and moody pedal steel of "Doubt" say as much as her honest lyrics. "Broken Cup," a rant against the emptiness of the culture's teasing prizes, is rich with Dylan embellishments. The quietly throbbing "Shelter" came across, to me, as a McCracken theme song of sorts, celebrating the sweetness of surrender. "Gravity Love" closes powerfully with the romantic piano ballad "All the Miles." I love the simplicity of this straightforward arrangement: all Sarah, on piano, harmonium, and vocals tracks. She is like a force of nature on "Gravity Love," her seventh album. Why fight the feeling? Embrace the mystery with Sandra McCracken.
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