Roush’s CD taps into ‘Nature’
Published in The Patriot Ledger April 15, 2004
Katrin Roush is a fresh face and sound on the folk music circuit. The young, passionate, soulful singer’s second CD, “Nature Spirit” (www.katrinrocks.com), is a powerful journey of love and nature, of being one with the Earth and enjoying its splendors, with a touch of anti-war sentiment.
The CD varies from sparse, soft acoustic guitar to more rhythmic, studio-produced selections, with drums by Pete Abdou and bass by Kevin Marini. The music was mixed by Mark Dailey of E. Dagener Productions in Quincy.
Roush’s music reflects a taste of granola, served with a lovely merlot. Her tantalizing vocals carry the disc, powering through images of past love, enticing the listener.
“I wanted to make a recording that truly reflected my soul,” said Roush, who lives near Worcester. “I felt that a stripped-down recording would help reach people on a more personal level.”
Though at times her lyrics lean toward the cliché (“There’s no time like the present to sing my song,” from “Present Moment”), more often her words are poignant, as in “Blame,” “Can anybody tell me what we’re fighting for? / Throwing the blame as we send our children off to war.”
Roush’s songs are punctuated by snappy guitar and enchanting vocals that carry the listener from thought to thought. Just as the Newton native is apparently naked in a photo on the CD’s inside cover (strategically hidden by a tree), Roush unveils herself as the album progresses.
The opening track, “Dreams,” is a fine introduction to Roush’s soulful voice, which soars and growls as she sings of haunting thoughts of a past love. “Earthen,” with its anthem-like chorus, leads into a several other songs about our connection to our world. There’s persistence of spirit in “Wildflower” and a renewal in “River,” where the water becomes a metaphor for life and change.
- STEPHEN A. IDE
The Patriot Ledger