Indie Spotlight shines on Liz Simmons, Jason McNiff, Rod MacDonald, Rich Mattson and the Northstars and others
Lee Zimmerman reviews the latest from indie artists such as Liz Simmons, Jason McNiff, Rod MacDonald, Rich Mattson and the Northstars and others
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By Lee Zimmerman
Liz Simmons could be considered a multi-tasker of sorts. A prime mover in the harmonious Vermont -based folk/bluegrass trio Low Lily, she purveys a sound flush with a warm embrace, as serene as a soft mid-winter’s fire’s glow. With her gentle alto vocal, she turns each song on her new solo album
Poets into a gentle caress, a sound so soft and beguiling it can soothe even the most troubled soul. Her version of Sandy Denny’s mournful classic “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” is a perfect case in point; while the song has had innumerable interpretations, few are as quiet and contemplative as the read Simmons offers here. Likewise, her take on the Motown classic “This Old Heart of Mine” finds an equal measure of eloquence in her thoroughly original interpretation.