Kate Wolf’s 1980 album, Close To You, weaves visions of vast, blue skies. Mountains and trees wind their way to the ocean, with the breeze slowly, warmly, blowing. Her music carries the feeling of people coming together, uniting strongly through their mutual humanity. Learning to live in peace and understanding, they take their time and fight for truth with love. It is a gentle world, slowly flowing through the trees like white mists on the wind. As each song expands into deepening and deepening complexity, the intimacy of the lyric and the intimacy of her performance summon ever-greater emotion in the listener.
I first came to hear Kate Wolf’s music through a Bonnie Prince Billy single that covered Kate’s “Brother Warrior”. Her story is amazing, and is better left for someone who would do it justice. Kate Wolf’s music is celebrated each year by thousands at the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival, held outdoors in Laytonville, California.
[download] Unfinished Life
[download] Close To You
-kevin-
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ahh its about time all we young folks out there start to rediscover kate wolf. she really was amazing. my parents knew her back in the 70s so i was always listening to her as i was growing up. thanks for posting this.
Comment by ben October 9, 2008 @ 8:17 amby the way, do you happen to have an mp3 of bonnie’s cover of brother warrior? ive been looking for it for ages to no avail.
kevin, you knew I’d love it
thanks again!
Comment by Allen October 9, 2008 @ 6:14 pmWhat a perceptive and well-written critique of Close to You! It was the first Kate Wolf album I ever heard, and the feeling and soul were profound. If any artist’s music could be described as universal, it would be Kate’s. She wrote and sang simply and from the heart, without frills or affectations, and her music is as affecting the twentieth time you hear it as it was the first. Thanks for sharing your impressions with us all.
Comment by Tom Gabriel October 29, 2008 @ 12:25 am